Harrisburg City Council Budget Hearing Meeting - 12/10/2025

It's 5:40. Excuse us for being a little

late. Um, we're going to go ahead and

get this meeting started so that we can

get things rolling. Um, Mr. Humphre, if

you wouldn't mind doing the roll call.

Miss Daniels,

Miss Davis,

>> present.

>> Miss Green,

>> present.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> here.

>> Miss RWS.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> present.

>> Miss Hill,

>> present.

>> Thank you very much. We're going to move

into committee business and we are going

to start with the office of the mayor.

Good evening, gentlemen.

If you wouldn't mind introducing

yourselves and then um I guess you have

a presentation for the office of the

mayor.

>> Uh good evening, council. Um madame

president, madame vice president. I'm uh

Sam Sakosski, the interim business

administrator, chief of staff,

>> and I'm Antonio Magna, special assistant

to the business administrator.

>> Thank you. And just to be clear, you're

doing the office of the mayor, right?

And then you'll do yours separately,

>> correct?

>> Okay. So, um after we get done with the

office of the mayor, then we'll start

with yours. But I just want to make sure

they don't run together so we have time

for separate questions.

>> Uh we also have a PowerPoint for the

equity and compliance office. So if you

want to.

>> Okay. So we will do the mayor's office,

then equity and compliance, then the

business administrator.

>> Perfect.

>> Thank you.

>> Okay, Jared. Next page.

Oh, I'm sorry. I wasn't watching.

So used to Jared.

Um, okay. Chief Executive Officer of the

Harrisburg. This is the mayor's

description. Chief Executive Officer of

the Harrisburg government. Harrisburg

City Government is a strong mayor,

council, former of government, uh,

full-time elected official, and is the

sole appointing authority of all

departments and office directors and

mayor's office staff. The mayor has

broad discretionary executive and

administrative authority under the

provisions of the third class optional

city code of Pennsylvania, the city's

charter, and the codified ordinances of

the city of Harrisburg. The mayor is

automatically a member of several public

and quasi public boards of directors

including the tri county planning

commission and the Harrisburg area

transportation study group hats for

short. The mayor has broad policym

authority and by executive order or

other action can direct the use of

municipal resources including the

setting of priorities for the use of

resources. is the office can assume an

an initiative role in matters, projects,

and policies of a citywide or regional

nature. Next slide, please.

Okay. Mayor Williams will be sworn in as

the 39th was sworn in as the 39th U

mayor of the city of Harrisburg on

January 3rd, 2022 and will be serving

her second term starting in in January

of 2026.

Um during her term this her first term

over 150 affordable and senior housing

units opened including JMBB Gardens,

Sycamore Homes, and Bethl Village. uh

major investments in public amenities

such as the completion of FNB stadium

renovations which are basically wrapping

up as we speak and the beginning and

beginning of the Broad Street Market

construction which will be last until

mid 2017.

Next slide please.

Are there any significant budget changes

from 2025 to 2026? There's no

significant changes. total budget

increased about8%

with reduction of 7.7 in non-s salary

line items. Um the next block is the

diversity complement within the office

and you can read that for yourself. Are

any current office employees bilingual?

Uh none that we are aware of.

Budget questions. Have any job duties or

responsibilities changed? The duties and

responsibilities have not changed.

However, there has been a significant

increase in workload, amount of incoming

calls, community assistance, referrals,

and follow-ups. Uh, proclamation

requests, marriage ceremonies, report

writing, and meetings. Uh, are there any

vacancies? The mayor's office is fully

staffed with no vacancies. Are there any

new positions? There are no new

positions.

Some budget questions we received. Are

there any salary increases larger than

the standard increment? Uh the only one

would be the mayor salary and that was

discussed at length last evening. It's

pending under bill 15 of 2025.

Um so the only thing I want to point out

here is the if the mayor's salary kept

up with inflation. I did mention this

last night but I didn't have a concrete

number. It would the salary would

currently be $123,000 a year. So uh

that's why I mentioned last evening that

the 1.1 1.2% 2% increase is

significantly less than it's only 44% of

the

average inflation rate

and there are some numbers there and I

read these last night so I'm not going

to read them again but talks about

Betham Lancaster Lebanon and writing in

New York and we did send the u the

spreadsheet that was asked for last

night so that was sent to the city

clerk's office so hopefully that you

guys have got that it was actually

colorcoded Um, and uh, so if anybody has

any questions on that, we'd be happy to

answer that. Uh, budget questions. Are

the 2026 budget items in line with the

year-to- date budget? Year-to- date

spending is in line with the 2026

proposals with no current line items

exceeding 92%. Um, are there any

performance metrics that the office

uses? The performance is evaluated

annually based on the annual goals set

by the mayor, the city budget, and the

needs of the people of Harrisburg. How

does the 2026 budget support office

goals? The additional funds will help

the office retain the highly qualified

staff to continue answering public

inquiries and assist the mayor and the

city with numerous tasks needed across

departments.

That's the end of the PowerPoint

presentation. Thank you very much. Uh I

don't have any questions regarding that

portion of the presentation. I'm going

to open it up for questions. Uh starting

to my far right. Is Councilwoman Daniels

here yet?

>> Then I'm going to start with

Councilwoman Davis.

>> Thank you, Vice President Green. I don't

have any questions at this time.

>> Thank you very much. President Hill, any

questions?

>> Yes. Thank you.

Okay, many of my questions were answered

um around the office's diversity

compliment employee bilingual and

bilingual employees, excuse me. Um

and the question regarding if any job

duties or responsibilities changed over

the course of the year.

I want to note that council did receive

the Excel spreadsheet that you

referenced during last night's meeting

in relation to bill 15 of 2025.

[clears throat]

Excuse me. I would like to note that the

highlighted positions throughout the

spreadsheet in the coral color are all

full-time positions. So, um, the council

salary that you mentioned for the city

of Chester at $52,500,

um, is a full-time role. That is the

only full-time role out of the city

council

comparable

city councils that you mentioned. in

reference to the the office of the

mayor. All of the salaries that you

mentioned

um are full-time. The city of Allentown,

the city of Altuna, the city of

Bethlehem, the city of Chester, the city

of Easton, the city of Erie, the city of

Hazelton, the city of Lancaster, the

city of Lebanon, the city of Reading,

the city of Wilsberry, the city of

Williamsport, and the city of York. In

reference to the treasurer, there are

two full-time treasurers operating uh

across the Commonwealth in the city of

Erie with a salary of $48,000

and in the city of York with a salary of

$50,000.

In reference to the controller of the

majority of the cities that you

referenced, there is a full-time

controller present with the exception of

three. The city of Easton, their

controller is a part-time position and

the salary is $22,389.

The city of Lancaster, the the part-time

salary is $8,500

and the city of York, the part-time

salary is $20,000.

I do have

other questions. One moment.

Maybe I don't. Okay. I think you

answered all of the questions

to date at this point. So, I don't have

any other questions. I would have loved

to have this conversation with the mayor

herself. So, thank you.

>> Uh, I just want to add one point. Uh, I

did talk to Pennsylvania Municipal

Retirement System today [clears throat]

and I did order a uh an analysis uh from

them on the the uh question from

Councilwoman Daniels from last night.

Uh, I asked her to expedite it quickly.

So, soon as I get it, I will forward it

to the city clerk's office.

>> Okay. Thank you.

Thank you very much, Councilwoman Ross.

Councilman Rodriguez.

>> Thank you, Madam Vice President. Uh,

thank you, Mr. Sam and Antonio, for

joining us this evening. Thank you for

your presentation on the mayor's office.

Um, I did have a few uh questions, but

they were questions directly for the

mayor, but I do have one I can direct to

you, Mr. Sowski. Um, do you know

currently where we are with the formerly

the American Rescue Plan dollars, um,

which is now no longer for the senior

programming? Um, we did have a

conversation around that and came up

that it would be an RFP process would

make it fair and equitable for all

senior living programming. Do we know if

that process has begun yet? If not, will

those dollars roll over so we can

continue that and hopefully get the

seniors some services? Well, there's a

brief discussion this afternoon, but I

didn't have a chance in getting prepared

for tonight's meeting. I didn't have a

chance to have a detailed discussion

with her about that. But, uh, uh, I

think the issue that we that we have uh,

is that you still only have one

certified senior center within the

community. But we just it was mentioned

in in passing and I didn't have a I

didn't have the time or the effort or

not the effort.

>> Yeah, I would definitely encourage you

to have the effort. I didn't have the

time to actually get into it in great

detail. So I I I I can't really answer

the the question with any kind of

authority. So

>> I understand that's just a bit

concerning because we would love to see

that, you know, into play for the

seniors. Um do you know if those dollars

will roll over so that conversation will

continue or what will happen with that?

>> Yeah, they'll still be there

>> with that quarter million dollars. So

whenever decisions made a word to

disperse those uh whether it's with the

the senior center or elsewhere then then

those dollars will go there.

>> Okay. Um if I can help in any way I've

just loved to see this implemented and

on go and green lit. So thank you for

being here this evening. Nothing further

madam vice president.

>> Thank you very much Councilman Jones.

Any questions?

>> No questions.

>> Thank you very much. Um I believe that

wraps up the questions for the office of

the mayor. Since your presentation's

already up uh for the office of the

business administrator, we'll roll into

that one next and then we can do equity

and compliance.

>> Okay.

>> Okay. Next screen. Okay. Business

administrator's description chief of

staff and performs risk management techn

technological personnel and central

administrative functions of the city. uh

authority to oversee the direct

management of all city departments which

are under the administrative

jurisdiction of the mayor as well as the

interaction with agencies which are

outside the executive branch and

directly manages six bureaus that's the

business development uh communications

community development information

technology human resources licensing

taxation and central support and serves

as the mayor's designate on various

boards and commissions

some of the accomplish complishments we

had in 2025 and I want to extend a great

thank you to my my assistant he started

what June July

>> okay so we able to manage to get a lot

of things done in that period of time uh

developed and implemented the 2025

affordable housing development grant

which resulted in 7.75 million in awards

to 13 developers that plan to build over

220 affordable housing units and uh

we're waiting for those um agreements,

grant agreements to be forwarded to us

by from the law bureau. Um we also over

oversaw the developed and oversaw the

trash bill forgiveness program um along

with William out of the law bureau uh

who was very helpful and uh we forgiven

slightly over a million dollars in

delinquent trash bills with the third

phase being launched later in December.

Can you add anything to that at all? Uh

just that the third phase, we're

currently finishing reviewing the list.

Um and that will be ideally launched

sometime next week. So uh people like in

the previous phases, it'll be good to

towards residents and they will receive

a letter if they're qualified in the

mail. And if they do, then they can

return on application. You if they do

not receive a letter, then they're not

qualified under the the next phase.

Okay. Um,

building future investments in the city

includes possible new TV franchise

agreements with Comcast and Verizon. And

we also uh have Rackp investments toting

over $1 billion through 21 itemization

requests. That is actually new

legislation that's pending. Uh it's with

the governor's office. It has to go

through the state u house of

representatives and also the the senate

and may be signed off by the governor.

Uh there's no guarantee that all 21 of

those itemization requests will be make

it through, but we're hopeful uh when we

sent that to our local legislative

delegation that it was passed on by them

without any changes whatsoever. So uh

are there any significant budget changes

from 2025 to 2026 or no significant

changes in the budget and the diversity

compliment? You can take a look for

yourself. I guess there's just the two

of us. Uh any current office employees

in bilingual? Uh the answer to that

would be no.

Did the office acquire any grants or

complete any special projects? Uh we we

do oversee the grant department. Uh we

we did a smittle of an LSA grant

totaling $1 million for the public works

building. Um, and we did a Dolphin

County gaming grant submitting $250,000

for the fire station one. Uh, working

with the governor's office in the

Commonwealth on rack PE designations. We

submitted two rack P applications, one

for 13.2 million for the Broad Street

Market and 6.2 million for the MLK

Junior building. Um, and those grants

are u are all pending. Um, so we don't

have definite answers on whether they'll

be awarded. We don't expect that to

happen till probably midy year next

year. So except for the one rack P which

we have it on an expedited process and

we're hoping to find out rather soon but

I can't tell you exactly when. Are there

any status updates for the ARPA related

project within the office? The

affordable housing grant and trash bill

forgiveness I touched upon earlier. Uh

so if you want me to to reiterate that I

can. Uh total of $10 million was

allocated the programs for ARPA monies.

7.75 for affordable housing and over one

million has been spent so far on the

trash bill forgiveness with the other

million hopefully going out with the

next phase. But depends what kind of

response we get. I think the first phase

that we did, we got a 50% response. Uh

so uh are there any vacancies? There's

no vacancies in the business

administrator's office. We're fully

staffed and there are no new positions.

expected.

Are the 2026 budget items in line with

the yearto-date budget? The year-to-

date spending is in line with the 2026

proposals with no lines items currently

exceeding 80 87% of the current budget.

Are there any salary increases larger

than the standard increment? And the

answer to that is no. Uh are there any

performance metrics that that the office

uses? The business administrator's

office uses the adopted budget as well

as a variety of u internal metrics to

determine whether the city and staff are

meeting expectations in including

comparisons with other thirdass cities

positional comparisons in both the

public and private sector and guidelines

for the programs established by the

Commonwealth and the federal government.

How does the 2026 budget support the

office goals? The budget increases will

enable the business administrators to

accomplish more tasks with staff support

over a larger regional impact at

conferences and meetings and uh also

hire a government relations specialist.

Uh I know this came up before that

another name for that position would be

a lobbyist. Uh I know the fire

department brought this up. Uh there is

a budget line item in the business

administrator's um budget for I don't

recall the number off the top of my

head. I can look it up in the book. It

has $64,000

budget. That is for the lobbyists that

that uh we have maintained in this

year's budget.

>> Thank you very much. I'm going to open

it up to questions starting this time to

my far left with Councilman Jones. Any

questions?

>> No questions. Councilman Rodriguez.

>> Thank you, Madam Vice Chair. Um, when

you mentioned the lobbyist, was that the

firm that came in front of us earlier in

the year?

>> Well, I I think we might want to reopen

and take a look another look at it. Uh,

but it could be that firm, it could be

another firm. Um, I didn't participate

in that process, so I can't say that'd

be the firm I would want. Um, um, could

be, it might not be. You know, it's like

I'm just saying that there's money in

there for a lobbyist, whether it's them

or somebody else. I think that would be

determined. I think we'd want to have

some participation and maybe go through

a process of selecting a potential

lobbyist, but they could help us in a

lot of different ways. Like, for

example, the two million that we got for

the fire department, uh that was give a

lot of credit to Chief Enterine for

doing that, but I think having a

lobbyist there would have been helpful.

uh these racked things that we're doing

uh you're talking potentially a billion

dollars available to the city over a

10-year period of time. I think having a

lobbyist there would be helpful uh

affecting legislation that would be

beneficial to the state capital. Um you

know the the reason I was given last

year when I brought this up is that

there were vacancies in the business

administrator's office, in the

communications office, and in the

finance director's position. and those

all been filled for close to a year. So,

uh I think we need it's it's time to

address that position.

>> And Chief Eneline did mention that when

he was in front of us recently um on the

importance of that. And then also, do

you foresee uh the remaining $1 million

from the trash relief initiative being

allocated before the end of the year or

not?

>> I don't think so. Probably it would take

a month or two, I would say, at least.

>> Okay. because you got to send the

letters out, then you got to get a

response. People are very slow to

respond and we usually give them what 15

days. We usually give them 15 days to

respond. So, and they we usually respond

at the last minute.

>> And then what cycle are we on right now

with the relief? Is it 2425 or 23 24?

>> Uh I think it's

the end of 23 into 24.

>> 24.

>> Okay. Thank you for that.

>> Nothing further.

>> Thank you very much. President Hill, any

questions? Yes, I have a few questions.

Um, but for the meeting record, I'd like

to note that you've been serving in your

role for 424

days. That's roughly 14 months, 61

weeks.

Now, I don't know if this question is

pertinent for you or if it was uh better

directed

toward the mayor's office, but we were

directed toward the mayor's office andor

your office regarding the long-term plan

for the director of building and

housing.

If there's no plan, are there any plans

uh for the role to remain at an interim

status?

I don't know of any uh plans to um have

a permanent search in place. Uh I think

the mayor wishes to have the current

interim director there. Um she's

cleaning up that office tremendously. Uh

there were issues from the prior person

that was there. So, um, you know, I

think the main thing is the the mayor,

uh, needs to have people in place to

help her govern and, uh, she feels that,

uh, Gloria is the person to do that.

>> Again, I do wish that she was here to

articulate this herself. Um, so if there

are no plans for a search or to open up

the role for application,

I guess

that's that.

So, um,

I just think it's unfortunate that

others are not provided an opportunity.

The building and housing department

historically

has been a catastrophe. So, I don't I

think every person that's been in the

role has been cleaning up a mess.

There's no clear succession planning

within that department. Um, but I think

it's unfortunate that other individuals

that may have um the qualifications will

not have an opportunity to apply for the

role. My other questions relating uh to

the diversity compliment and if there

are any bilingual employees was

answered. I do have additional questions

regarding the trash bill forgiveness

program. Can you please provide an

update on the number of residents to

date that have um that had their trash

bill forgiven?

>> I don't know the exact number off the

top of my head, but it is somewhere

north of 250.

Okay. Well, I would like to know a clear

number on that, please. And is there a

deadline for the second phase of this

program? It just notes the in December.

So, um what are the dates? The

application will open up or remain open

until when?

>> So, whenever we send a letter out, it'll

be 15 days from that date. Um we haven't

sent the letters out yet, so we don't

know the exact timeline yet, but as I

said, our goal is to send it out next

week. So it would be 15 days from

whenever the exact date next week we

would send it out. Uh if it gets pushed

back then it'll be 15 days from then.

>> Okay. So if you send it out on Monday,

are you prepared to I mean I just think

um

with 15 days from next week, you'll be

running into the new year. Is there a

reason why it wasn't sent maybe last

Monday, December 1st?

>> Uh we've just been working through the

lists. Um it's a it's a complicated

process. Um with the help from from uh

the lobby and others, uh it's uh you

know the new list is going to be over

500 people. So it's a lot to review and

a lot to create. So it just took time.

>> And how many people were on the initial

list that you said about 250 residents

were able to

>> It was around 500 and I'll send the um

report the updated report over um after

the meeting here, but uh yeah, it's

roughly 250 returned out of 500. Okay,

thank you. I would like to see those

numbers and then if you could please let

us know when the letter is sent out next

week. Thank you. I don't have any other

questions.

>> Thank you very much, Councilwoman Davis.

>> Thank you, Vice President Green. My

questions were answered already, so

thank you.

>> Oh, great.

>> Thank you very much. It looks like

Councilwoman Daniels has joined us. Do

you have any questions or comments for

the Office of the Business

Administrator?

>> No, thank you. Thank you very much,

Councilman Jones.

>> Yes. My question is for Neil Grover,

solicitor. Um, if this position is

defunded, business administrator, what's

the process?

>> The process is that you make a motion to

amend the budget. Um, that budget then

actually gets physically amended by

numbers. Uh and those amendments get

read into the uh uh the actual ordinance

document which is the short version that

you see that has every fund and category

on it. Um it takes um four votes to

reduce uh take a motion and a second and

four votes. Um the mayor then would have

the option to uh veto that and the

council would have the option to

override that veto. And does so it does

at any point does it open up the

position um as uh council president Hill

alluded to um not having this position

open when this

>> so you would have no funding for the

position anymore so it wouldn't open up

the position to be filled.

>> All right. So then

>> so there are ripple effects with the

business administrator. It's one of the

statutory positions and in our code it

has a provision if there is a business

administrator the following applied dut

with duties and responsibilities and and

those along the lines. So it would

essentially be an attempt for a forced

reorganization of city government.

>> And so can you answer for me and uh the

public as well? um if this say this

takes place um I mean because this

business administrator was voted down

five to two right he's still serving and

and and and other laws ordinances our

charter it states that the mayor has the

right to appoint and council must

approve um however he was voted down and

he's still serving so what's the process

>> so I don't think we've been through this

sort of public dance many times at this

point. Um the process is simply that

that under the only case law on the

appointment power in the Commonwealth of

Pennsylvania. Um the courts had said

that the appointment is specifically and

only a power that cannot be taken away

from the appointing authority that in

this case that is the mayor and the

approval is a legislative power that

cannot be

abridged uh for the council members.

Right? So there's two powers. That's why

I said again this is a political issue

everywhere where there's appointment and

confirmation. um that just is but that's

and it's intended to be that way in the

structure of our constitutional form of

government in the nation and in the

state. Um so at that point the what the

courts have said is the appointing

authority can just keep reappointing the

same person.

>> But that that that hasn't happened

though. That's what I'm saying.

>> Right. Well, I know that's because in

the history of the city under former

rejections they moved to the solution

the working solution was interim. I I

think as you know we're not the only

city that does interims because these

are hard positions to fill. We had under

Mayor Pat a three-year period without a

business administrator.

>> So even that's using that term interim.

Yep. 120 days,

>> right?

>> No, I don't. Interim is

>> unless you unless you read

>> you're not I have not said that interim

is the same as acting. It says acting in

the law. It doesn't say interim. That

was the workaround.

>> All right. No further question.

>> A judge would have to say otherwise. No

further questions.

>> Vice President Green.

>> Thank you very much. Any other questions

or comments for the Office of the

Business Administrator?

>> Can I make one point?

>> Yes, you're always welcome.

>> Uh the vote was reported 5 to2 was

actually 4 to three. So,

>> thank you very much. Um

we are going to move forward to the

office of equity and compliance. You

said you had a presentation for

Good evening. Nice to formally meet you.

Uh if you wouldn't mind, if you would

use those microphones work a lot better.

>> Thank you.

>> If you wouldn't mind introducing

yourself and then going through your

presentation, then we'll open up for

questions at the end.

>> Thank you. And good evening, President

Hill and Vice President Green and

Council. My name is Dena Jandere and I

serve as the interim chief equity and

compliance officer. Next slide, please.

Now, what I've done is just provide a

contents of of the report and just um a

map and what I'll be talking about this

evening. Next slide. So, the role and

evolution of the office of equity and

compliance. Uh the role has expanded

significantly in response to the city's

current climate, including rising

immigration challenges, increasing

community need and growing demand for

clearer economic pathways.

And I just want to state that the

foundation had been laid when I came

into this position.

Um, as you can see there

on the slides that what and what I meant

by what I just said is that you know the

policy have a internally focused DEI

position which that is this the

foundation that was presented for me um

has evolved into a modern public-f

facing leadership role that requires

strate strategic problem solving rapid

response and direct engagement with

residents, businesses, and community

partners. Grounded in the principles of

diversity, equity, and inclusion, the

office is working to ensure that all

stakeholders can navigate the city

processes, access available resources,

and fully participate in Harrisburg's

economic life. My responsibilities

include strengthening the small business

ecosystem, supporting existing

businesses and contractors, advancing

economic mobility, and increasing access

and opportunity across all areas of city

operations. This work aligns directly

with the administration's priorities,

transparencies, partnerships, business

readiness, and measurable community

impact, ensuring that our efforts

produce real visible results for the

community.

As a result of this, I kind of look at

it as serving a dual role in acting as a

strategic advisor to the mayor. And what

I mean by that is presenting to her um

new ideas and programming and training

and how we can get the community

involved in understanding what their

opportunities are and here and

navigating through that process.

And then also

um

functioning as an essential resource for

residents contractors in the city's

emerging workforce.

This report will reflect the

accomplishments achieved during this

period from the time that I was hired

July 14th till now.

And um it will outline the key

initiatives we will continue to advance

in 2026 as we strengthen the city's

commitment to equitable access,

accountability, and community centered

opportunity.

So since July 14th, 2025, I have led a

focus effort within the office of equity

and compliance to strengthen

Harrisburg's economic mobility,

workforce readiness, and business

support systems. This work has centered

on building an in the infrastructure

partnerships and accountability

mechanisms needed to ensure fair access

to opportunities across the city

processes.

With the support of my special

assistant, Ahmad Collins, who could not

be here this evening, we have launched

high impact programs, expanded cross-

sector collaborations, and implemented

datadriven tools that enhance

transparency and drive measurable

results. Together, these initiatives

position the city to deliver a more

inclusive, business ready, and growth

focused future for residents and local

enterprises.

Thank you.

We launched two foundational access and

opportunity programs. The first is the

disadvantaged business enterprise

mentoring information and resource

network. The DBE mentoring information

and resource network is this is the city

of Harrisburg's new business concier

service. That's how I like to look at it

when I talk about this. in guiding new

and existing businesses through

certification, compliance, vendor

registration, and contracting within the

city through bi-weekly sessions that are

held here in the chamber um

and hands-on support. The mentoring

information resource network strengthens

business readiness, expands the DBE

pipeline, and increases local

participation in procurement

opportunities. The program is powered by

strategic partnerships including members

first med pen bank

uh Medpin Bank and I have two new

partners which would be Wells Fargo and

Mnt Bank that provide training and

financial wellness. We had an expert a

subject matter expert here a month ago

um to talk about cyber security. I am

now looking for an AI expert and

business development to

be able to talk to the contractors or

the participants about how to protect

their businesses by streamlining access

to resources and building business

capacity. The mentoring information

resource network helps attract firms,

contractors, small businesses back to

Harrisburg and drives inclusive economic

growth across the city.

The next one is the HOPE internship

program. Hope stands for Harrisburg

opportunities for professional

experience. This is and will be the

city's first citywide internship

pipeline designed to open doors for

young professionals and prepare them for

meaningful careers. hope gives students.

And I just want to stop there because

the students that I'm looking to um

have in this program are juniors and

seniors. I meet with the superintendent.

He loves the idea of this program. And

then also I have a meeting coming up

with

Dr. Ski at Harrisburg, I mean at Hack

Harrisburg. Um and then Harrisburg

University. I'll be reaching out to them

as well.

So, Hope gives students real exposure to

public service by placing them in city

departments. I want to pause there for a

minute as well. I have spoken to the

directors here and they love the idea of

having interns specifically

um public works

but all the other departments were um

receptive of this as well where they can

receive hands-on experience, mentorship

and practical career guidance. The

program equips participants with

essential professional and leadership

skills while also strengthening their

financial confidence through training

programs by members first Midpen Bank in

Wells Fargo by combining workplace

experience with mentorship and financial

literacy. Hope creates a well-rounded

pathway that supports both professional

and personal growth. Launching in 2026

2026, I'm sorry. they hope will help

build the city's future workforce by

connecting youth, I like to say young

professionals and emerging professionals

to high quality opportunities, expanding

access to career preparation and

creating a sustainable talent pipeline

for Harrisburg. The program reflects the

city's commitment to investing in our

youth, our young professionals,

supporting their long-term success, and

growing local talent that will help

shape Harrisburg's future. As part of

our commitment to strengthening

financial readiness across the community

through partnership with MedPen Bank and

Bonsai, Harrisburg has its first digital

financial literacy classroom.

This modern online platform provides

residents, students, and emerging

professionals with practical financial

education, covering budgeting, credit

building, savings, and long-term

planning. The digital classroom is now

fully integrated into both the mentoring

information and resource network program

and the hope internship pipeline,

ensuring that local businesses, youth,

and emerging professionals gain the

financial confidence and skills needed

to support personal stability,

entrepreneurialship, and long-term

economic mobility

in 2026. But I did this just uh last

week I want to say or two weeks ago. I

registered the city to be a registered

apprenticehip sponsor

certificate. Um yeah sponsor. I

completed the process to register the

city of Harrisburg as an official

registered apprenticehip sponsor. A

major step to um establish the

foundation for the Grow internship

certification program. Grow stands for

guided readiness and opportunity for

workforce.

This designation this designated

position this designation positions the

city to directly develop and oversee

apprenticeship pathways that lead

residents into high demand and skilled

occupations. Through the Grow program,

participants will gain access to paid on

the job training, classroom instruction,

the industry recognized credentials,

strengthening economic mobility, and

meeting the workforce needs of local

employers. This structure also creates

meaningful opportunities for re-entry

populations, providing a clear pathway

toward stable employment and helping

reduce recidivism by securing registered

sponsor status. The city is the city

will be equipped to build sustainable

talent pipelines,

expand partnerships with regional

employers and training providers, and

support long-term workforce development

that benefits both residents and

Harrisburg's economic future. I have

strengthened cross department um

coordinations. I improved alignment

across the city's departments including

procurement economic devel excuse me

economic development mercantile building

and housing development and codes the to

streamline how v vendors and contractors

navigate city processes and required

codes.

This coordinated approach helps

businesses move more efficiently through

licensing, permitting, inspection,

certification, compliance, and

contracting by strengthening

communication and support across

these departments. The city is reducing

barriers for entrepreneurs and providing

clearer, more consistent guidance for

contractors working in Harrisburg. I've

expanded community and strategic

partnerships.

Um, I expanded the city's network of

community and strategic partners to

strengthen our ability to deliver

highquality training

opportunity for workforce development

resources.

Uh, new partnerships with Members First

Federal Credit Union, MedPen Bank, Wells

Fargo, and Mnt have enhanced our

financial literacy offerings. access to

capital I'm sorry I don't know why my

eye is watering access to capital um

sessions and support for both emer both

both emerging um and established

businesses. So let me pause there for a

second and just let you um let me

explain what the sessions look like.

So for the DBE mentoring information

resource network that's twice a month

the first Thursday and the third

Thursday of each month and like I said

it's held here. The first session is

what I call the mapping. I provide the

the information with QR codes that

direct them

straight to um the departments.

the communication

um that we have and I have some people

that have come and participate and

support the program. These are seasoned

legacy contractors that are looking for

an opportunity to be able to mentor

young people and upandcoming um

individuals that are looking to start a

business here. So what better way than

to have professionals come and mentor

the second session on that third

Thursday

um provides the subject matter experts

from the

community partners to come in and talk

about different topics, speak on

different topics and it provides that

you know that closeness and that

personal um building personal

relationships with maybe a a a bank or a

financial institution, somebody may not

have even thought to consider looking

for funding.

Um, moving forward,

collaboration with ProRank Academy,

um, the first diversity, equity, and

inclusion e ecosystem.

That was huge. Just being able to learn

about them, being able to access that

because my office is really about

working smarter and not harder because

their system is designed to promote

diversity, equity, and inclusion

specifically with regard to publicly

funding job funded jobs and projects by

helping diverse individuals and business

owners educate, network, and get work.

So it's everything that I am doing with

the DBE

enhanced by 10 and I'm thankful that um

I'm able to work with with that group.

In addition working with the business

leaders such as the 2025 entrepreneur of

the year Tariq Castile. He has brought

realworld insight and mentorship into

our programming especially for small

minorityowned and disadvantaged

businesses seeking to scale. These

partnerships reflect how our office is

committed to working smarter, not harder

by leveraging community expertise. And

together, we are strengthening

Harrisburg's entrepreneurial ecosystem,

expanding workforce pipelines, and

ensuring that businesses and residents

have access to tools, knowledge, and

relationships needed to grow and

succeed.

Building the foundation for equitable

growth.

Our work centers on strengthening the

systems, partnerships, and programs that

make opportunities more accessible for

residents and contractors and businesses

by modernizing processes, expanding

workforce pathways, and improving

coordination across city operations.

We're in the process of creating the

conditions for a long-term equitable

economic growth in Harrisburg.

So, my accomplishments in 2025, the

Office of Equity and Compliance delivers

foundational progress across pro

programs, partnerships, and systems that

improve how residents, b businesses, and

contractors engage with the city. These

accomplishments reflect our commitment

to strengthening economic mobility,

enhancing transparency, and positioning

Harrisburg for sustainable growth.

the 2026 strategic initiatives.

So what I'm looking to do in 2026,

the Office of Equity and Compliance will

advance strategic initiatives that

strengthen transparency, expand

opportunity, and again modernize city

systems, and build a more business ready

and economically mobile Harrisburg.

These efforts emphasize communications,

accountability, workforce development,

expanded partnerships, and stronger

engagement with local businesses and

training providers.

Another thing that is new on the horizon

is the equity and compliance newsletter.

Um, I will be meeting with Michelle and

I have been meeting with her, but

solidifying that um, partnership with

with um,

Pro Rank Academy has really helped me to

really navigate what that website um, my

web page is going to look like and the

access um, opportunity continuity

document. So, the newsletter is going to

be new um that is going to launch in the

beginning of the year and it's going to

redesign the website and redesign the

website to make resources easier and

access. Along with these uh

communication improvements, my office

has developed the access and opportunity

continuity document.

I worked as um a military consultant for

15 years and we were trained to always

have a document that whomever followed

up after that person could have a Bible

so to speak and a pathway to um help

that transaction transition easier and

to build. So I have created that

document. It's an operational guide for

sustaining and strengthening the

programs, systems, and performance

measures that expand opportunity for

again residents, businesses, and

contractors. This is an internal

document, and it will be easy for me uh

to pull from and be able to get my

reports done.

The document ensures continuity,

transparency, and accountability across

city operations regardless of the staff

or leadership changes.

The continuity document outlines how

major initiatives such as the DBE

mentoring information resource network

and hope internship pipeline and the

guided readiness and opportunity for

workforce apprentichip program are

structured, managed, and evaluated.

It standardizes data collection,

reporting expectations, and cross-dep

department coordination so progress

remains consistent and measurable over

time. Organized around five performance

pillars, which would be contracting and

procurement, workforce access, program

participation, community engagement, and

compliance and accountability. The

document provides a unified framework

for tracking outcomes and maintaining

institutional knowledge by defining

clear roles, reporting schedules,

governance structures, and performance

metrics. The continuity document

protects the city's progress and ensures

that expanding opportunities remain a

long-term priority for Harrisburg's

economic and community development. I

also created um an access and

opportunity dashboard. This too is an

internal document and a centralized data

across contracting and workforce

development program participation and

engagement and it's a tool strengthening

to for transparency purposes supports

leadership decision making and ensures

continuity across administrations by

cons consolidating performance

information into one unified system.

in 2026 plan to expand the hope

internship pipeline. The expanded hope

internship pipeline will offer

multi-depart

placements. I made mention of that

before with the men with mentors

leadership and development, financial

literacy, and handling experience. Hope

strengthens the city's long-term

workforce pipeline and deepens

partnerships with educational

institutions, financial institutions,

and community organizations.

Um and in 2026 I will focus on

building these partnerships aligning

pathways with the hope internship

pipeline and DBE along with the

apprenticeship program grow. They are

all going to work um together.

Business attraction and engagement

strategies.

The refreshed business attraction and

engagement strategy will include vendor

welcome packages,

quarterly industry roundtable

discussions, and expanded business

concier service through mentoring

information and resource network.

Strengthening partnerships with

financial institutions, business

leaders, apprenticeship providers, and

legacy contractors, as you see be behind

me, will help businesses navigate city's

city processes, certification,

compliance, and contracting codes and

permitting and increasing participation

among local, small, and minority owned

and emerging firms. Looking ahead in

2026, the Office of Equity and

Compliance will deepen partnerships,

strengthen workforce pathways, and

improve how residents and business

access city services.

My priority is advancing

the mentor information resource network,

the Harrisburg opportunity for

professional experience and for grow

apprenticeship program while modernizing

systems and communications to make

Harrisburg more accessible, business

ready, and opportunity driven.

And that's all I have.

Thank you very much for your

presentation. I'm going to start with

questions. So, I'm going to start to my

far right with Councilwoman Daniels. Do

you have any questions or comments?

>> No questions. Thank you.

>> Thank you very much, Councilwoman Davis.

Any questions or comments?

>> Thank you, Vice President Green. Thank

you.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you for being here this evening.

Uh, and your team behind you. That was a

lot, you know. Um, can you hear me?

Okay. Turn this around.

You know, I was just um thinking about

uh the previous equity and inclusion um

officer who was here, Mr. Singleton.

And um

sounds like you're picking up where he

left off basically. Um so, a few

questions. That was a lot. It was um

very it was it was music to my ears.

um

because this is what we've been looking

for.

>> Thank you.

you know, to be able to capture the um

talent of our

young professionals.

Um, business owners here in the city who

have been having a difficult time with

access

um certifications and

to know that you're working with uh Mr.

Castile

>> and then pro rank which I don't know

much about pro rank

>> but

>> they're heaven.

>> It's [laughter] good to see this um

initiative initially

>> um and you have a team. So,

uh, when you mentioned, uh, that your

primary goal is to focus on

apprenticeship,

can you elaborate on that a little bit

in terms of is it construction or

>> Yeah. So, in speaking with some of the

contractors that participate in my

program, a lot of them don't meet the

city requirements. They requirements

you must have. you must be a master

electrician and a master plumber.

>> So, in

speaking with um Mr. Sam, and I don't

want to put him on the spot, but he'll

be here later. It's Miss Rebecca's

assistant for grants. Um he has an

extensive background at at the

Department of Labor. So, I just wanted

to pick his brain and just see how if

this could be conducive, if we could do

something like this because when people

are coming here, I want to be able to

give them an option. Um, I don't in the

research that I've done, it's

non-existent.

And I just feel like if we provided

opportunities for them to not focus so

hard well to go through a a a strenuous

process through the state if we're able

to create a space where they can come in

and meet the qualifications of the city,

I believe that the contractors would be

more inclined and and feel like they had

that support. So, just a few of the

people that I've spoken to, I'm like the

worst that it could they could say is

no. And I believe right now we're

sitting at a really good um opportunity

to at least try this. It's not anything

that's going to happen overnight. It is

a long process,

>> but that is a goal of mine in 2026.

>> Okay. A very noble goal, I might say.

>> Do you have any students currently? Are

you working with any students right now

or

>> actually so um Tark and I are going to

be meeting soon because I just I want to

be able to um provide that resource to

anybody that comes here that may be

looking for an apprenticeship

opportunity.

>> Okay. So, um,

next month I will be, as far as the hope

program, that's when I'm really going to

go hard and launch. And I want to build

the anticipation for the summer. From

what I understand and what I was told by

Sam, we do have in Antonio, we do have

that in the budget for um, interns. But

I also want to acknowledge the fact that

not every student is looking to go to a

4-year institution.

And if I could provide an opportunity

for them to consider trades, then this

is just a perfect marriage of what could

possibly grow in the city of Harrisburg.

>> Okay. Thank you. Um I'm going to pass

for now. I'll come back with more

questions.

>> Okay.

>> Thank you very much. President Hill, any

questions?

>> Yes. Thank you. Good evening.

>> Good evening.

>> [snorts]

>> So, first you you're serving in an

interim capacity as the chief equity and

compliance officer.

>> So, you began the role

>> July 14th.

>> July 14th, 2025. So, that was 149 days

ago, 4 months and 21 weeks. You said a

lot. Um, and I think the best way for me

to begin my line of questioning is to

read the job description.

This is the job description for the

chief equity and compliance officer. I'm

just going to go to the essential

functions. This position involves

planning, organization, and execution of

day-to-day operational compliance

activities. Additionally, this person

will help create and maintain a strong

compliance framework for advancing

racial and social equity in the city of

Harrisburg. Developing policies and

programs that advance systemic changes.

Overseeing and monitoring the

implementation of a compliance program.

Monitor compliance with all applicable

city, state, and federal ordinances and

legislation. Acts as the city liaison in

these matters and prepares necessary

reports to document same. provide

guidance, advice, training, and

strategic direction to departments and

city officials. Independently

investigate and act on matters related

to compliance. Creating and monitoring

review processes, research, statist

statistical analysis, compilation of

data and reports as needed, including

monthly, quarterly, and annual.

Represents the city and mayor's office

at various public functions. attends

meetings and will always operate in

accordance with policies, procedures,

code of ethics, and standards as it

relates to the city of Harrisburg.

Maintains regular, punctual, and

predictable attendance. reports to work

and remains at work in a productive

condition, which includes not being

under the influence or impaired by the

use of alcohol and or drugs. Establishes

and maintains an effective working

relationship with supervisors,

co-workers, and the general public.

Completes all assignments in an

efficient, consistent, and timely

manner. Now, I say I read that because

you said a lot and a lot of what you

said, quite honestly, if I'm being very

honest, I think you would be the perfect

[clears throat] candidate for a

community and economic development role.

Um, are any of the programs you

mentioned active or are they all still

being developed and determined?

>> So, thank you for that question and if I

may take a few steps back, that's the

importance of having a continuity

document.

Had I had a continuity document, I would

have been able to follow

where it was left off. So that's the

that's why it's so important.

>> Well, I have questions about that later,

but first, are any of the programs you

mentioned active or are they still being

developed?

>> No, they're active.

>> They're all active.

>> My department, my DBE program is active.

It launched November 6 of this year and

we meet

like I said twice a month right here in

the chamber and the first night I had 23

participants.

The second was when members first and

they were here for cyber security. It

was five of us and then just last week

gentlemen last Thursday it was six of

us. Um, and what I'd like to highlight

about that is there was a

there was a gentleman who is looking to

start his own dessert like restaurant or

not a restaurant but just a shop and he

brought in product. He brought in his

cupcakes. So that's meaningful that they

have the opportunity to network, to

connect, to show off their their

product, and to be able to make those

connections. Um the Harrisburg, I mean

the um hope program internship program

that is launching in January.

>> And if I may say, I love this position.

>> I hear what you're saying, but I love

this position. I just really wish that

there was something that I could

>> um lean on as I

>> start well when I started um but

my background really is in public facing

and in community and I feel like with

any program and that you create and you

include the community and you're helping

them. Last week, I had a master plumber

tell me that he didn't believe that

there was somebody there looking to help

him as a minority business owner. And

when he left there last week, he

mentioned that he will be at every one

of my programs.

>> Excellent. Okay. The HOPE internship

program will launch in January. So,

technically that's not active right now.

What about the Grow program? Everything

had an acronym. So, make sure I have

them correct. Grow. What about that?

>> That's not That is when I registered the

city to be a um apprenticeship program.

And like I said, that's going to take a

year. I began the process. The one

that's active right now that I am

hosting

um programs is the DBE mentoring

information.

>> Okay. I have some other questions. Mhm.

>> Um, you mentioned a report at the very

very beginning of what you were all of

what you said. Um, I don't know. I was

just curious to know when we could

expect to receive it. Um,

>> are you talking about the equity and

compliance report?

>> The title?

>> I think so. I don't know. Like I said, I

was trying to take notes because all

that you mentioned is

sort of vastly different from your

quarterly reporting that we've read. So,

I was just trying to take notes and make

sure that I understood what was

happening.

>> And that is because, if I may, um,

President Hill, because I'm constantly

I'm evolving and I'm not there's a lot

going on and I started day one. Okay.

>> When I was hired, I started day one. So

it would be different.

>> Okay.

Um for the hope internship program, um

are these minority students that you are

courting? You said juniors and seniors,

high school juniors and seniors. Are

they attending Harrisburg schools? How

many students will participate in the

program? Is it paid? Um how long is the

program? Is there a final project? Is

there something in writing that details

this program?

>> Yes, it does. and and and there is and

I'll be more than happy to give that to

you.

>> Sure, if you could please share.

>> I was supposed to meet with the

superintendent last week. He had um

something else that he needed to take

care of, but I am on the books to meet

with him on the 18th, I believe. And

what was the other

>> I asked a few. So, are these minority

students that you're coordining for this

program?

>> I want to talk to the superintendent.

>> Okay. um because he is well aware of

this program and I want I would like for

him to

um coordinate a time or help me meet

with some of the the teachers the

educators there and see what students

would be best for the program or

interested in the program.

>> So wait let me go back you said that

this was launching in January of 2026.

So does that mean that you are accept

beginning to accept applications for

this program in January of 2026?

>> What I said was that I am going to

launch it and build the um anticipation

for the program. So I thought that I

would have been able to be prepared to

give you more because I was supposed to

meet with the superintendent last week

and I was not able to because he had

another commitment.

>> Okay. Um, so

how many students are you

is there a goal of how many students you

anticipate or hope will participate? Oh,

look at that. Hope how many people do

you hope will participate in the

internship program?

>> Remember, um, I can't really remember

how many that we had said, but um, I

>> do you know, Antonio,

>> we had a conversation about this Um but

it's in my notes and I can make sure

that you get that information and also

yes it [clears throat] will be a paid um

>> oh yes it will be paid. Is there a

stipen or how does payment work? What is

the

>> from what I understand Sam had told me

that this was in the budget. So these

are conversations that we need to have

and see what this looks like.

>> Okay. Well, I'll look for the uh

appropriation. I'll make note of that.

Um,

how long will the program be?

>> It's a summer. The summer program.

>> Over the summer. Okay. And is there like

a final project or what do you hope the

students will get out of this?

>> Yes. So, in um partnership with Wells

Fargo, we had a discussion that um

my contact there and I'm sorry her name

escapes me. We were just talking about

how social media can be deceiving and

just how some of our youth or young

professionals I like to call them um are

quick to spend a dollar right and not

understanding that if what you don't

have that you should challenge yourself

to

be able to save and and just teaching

that. So yes, it will be a capstone

project

>> of them saving money with Wells Fargo.

>> No.

>> Okay.

>> It's will be a capstone project and we

will talk about

>> savings. We'll talk about spending,

we'll talk about all of the the things

that

will if once we have these um meetings

with them and how they can be

responsible. Um so the capstone project

outlined in the information for the

program. Okay. Well, I'll look to read

that.

>> Okay.

>> Um

>> Okay. You mentioned

evaluation metrics for all of the

programming that you mentioned, five

pillars, and then you talked about the

continuity document. That's an internal

document as well as the dashboard. Is

that correct?

>> Yes, it is.

>> And who will have access to these

documents or who are you sharing the

information with? the mayor's office.

>> Absolutely.

>> Oh, okay.

Okay.

In the job description, it notes that

there's a compilation of data and

reports the as needed um including

monthly, quarterly, and annual. So is

that will that information be found on

this on either of the the continent the

continuity document or the dashboard? So

all of that will help me okay

>> in establishing an impact report for the

year and it helps me with my quarterly

reports. It would not be anything where

I would have to search for it as I as I

um do my programming, make any contacts,

I am updating that and making sure that

you know I that it's uh accessible and

if the mayor needs anything that I'm

able to pull that quickly.

>> Okay. Um my last question, Pro Rank

Academy. I remember Mr. Singleton

mentioning Pro Rank Academy and with the

roundts that he hosted, ProRank Academy

was present. So, I just wanted to

clarify that partnership was present

before you arrived. Is that correct?

>> Yes, it was. And you're actually on

there and I started following you.

>> Okay.

>> So, yes.

>> Okay. Um, yeah, you followed me today. I

got an email.

>> Um, trying to think if there's anything

else.

I guess a comment. It seems to me like

there should have been something because

um

Mr. Collins

was still here. So, it was my

understanding that he had access to data

or something um relative to

uh the spend, the monthly spend in each

of the departments or bureaus. Is that

something that exists, doesn't exist?

Are you privy to that information? Are

you doing something with it?

>> I do get the monthly spend.

>> Okay. Um,

Ahmad

does help me as my special assistant.

The problem with the monthly spend

and

this is this goes back to continuity. It

goes back to a standard. I didn't know

what I was looking at when it came to

the monthly spend. I wasn't sure what

was a DBE vendor. I I wasn't sure of it.

So now what we have done is so I can

better understand what I'm looking at is

we are updating

>> um the the documents. He was able to

explain everything to me because he's

been in the position for quite some

time.

>> Right. That's what I'm saying. There was

something present when you arrived. um

and if he was able to share that at

least being

the chief equity and compliance officer

and for my background and the standards

and how I work,

>> I was looking for something a little bit

more concrete. That's just me. So

because of how I'm used to doing things

>> um and in organizing

I just wanted to follow I wanted to

create that so with the next person um

should

this position still be available that

they would have something concrete.

Okay. Um, I guess my I I don't want to

hold anyone else up from their line of

questioning or questions that they may

have for you. Um,

going back to the evaluation and the

metrics, I recognize that that will be

present in these documents that nobody

can see, but will they be shared in the

impact report that you mentioned for the

year or is there some way that they will

be made available to the public for for

reference? because you I'm just I I

think that all of the program that

programming that you mentioned, you're

one person and you do have Mr. Collins.

Do you believe that you have the

capacity to oversee all of this stuff

that you said over the course of a year?

That's very very very ambitious. Not

saying that you can't do it because I

don't know you that well, but I you just

mentioned a lot and and the um the goals

of achieving a lot um over the next

year. So, I just want to make sure that

um and I say this to parks and wreck

too, five and six people, that's great,

but do you really think that is

successful? Are you really making an

impact? Because it decreased. The first

one you had 23 people. So, what

happened? Where are those people? Does

the date and time not work? I just don't

want you to do all of this work for five

or six people. They'll benefit, sure.

But it just doesn't seem like a um a

great use of your time. Well, if I may,

it's new. It's the winter time and I I

can't remember from the second one that

what the weather was like, but it's it

is cold outside. So, I'm taking

everything um

I'm taking everything with a grain of

salt. Now to back up and where I came

from,

I worked as a state consultant for the

military

from its inception. So I was given a

program and it was absolutely nothing

and I supported all branches and

components for the entire state of

Pennsylvania. So I did that successfully

and created bridge programs along the

way.

I did that for 15 years. This is a walk

in the park for me.

>> Okay. Well, I can't wait to see the

metrics. That's what I'll be looking

for. The data, everything in this job

description is what I'm looking for. And

I just don't know if some of these

programs that you're interested in

implementing that are still being

developed with the anticipation to build

next year um if they meet this role. So,

thank you for your time and for your

responses.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you very much. Councilwoman RS, do

you have any questions or comments?

>> Thank you, Vice President Green. And um

good evening to everyone. Um thank you

for your presentation tonight. Um it was

very thorough. Um I look forward to um

seeing everything that you laid out come

to fruition and the goals that you have.

Um it everything sounded really great.

Um and I also heard you say the

experience you have and um some of my

questions were the same as President

Hill. So I don't have any other ones. I

would just say I would I'm just

definitely going to be looking out for

um the things that you mentioned and the

goals that you set um come to fruition.

So, thank you again and that's it for

me.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you very much, Councilman

Rodriguez.

>> Thank you, Madam Vice President. Thank

you for joining us this evening.

>> Thank you.

>> Um, I had similar questions as far as

the appropriations for the interns and

what kind of overhead that may uh or may

ensue due to like liability. Do we have

any idea of that? Because we may have uh

like students interning, correct? Or

young adults?

>> Yes. my understanding

prior to my coming here that there were

interns already in the mayor's office.

So, um I will confer.

>> Oh, I wasn't aware of that.

>> Yeah, they had interns.

>> Okay. Well, I guess this would be a

legal question. What would be the

difference between them doing maybe

hands-on construction or public works

with a higher liability than maybe like

a business role with the madame mayor or

something within the building?

>> You would have to do it position by

position, right? So the an intern can't

do without the agreement of ASME what is

ASME work right.

>> So and but they encourage interns

because they encourage future membership

and training right so um they're really

interning with a manager that's what

they're interning for and and the laws

had interns every summer for for 20

years. Um the uh and HR oversees uh and

has sort of formalized more the process

to get an intern. They have to come in

and get a badge. They have to go through

things. We're very sensitive to the

question of whether they're minors. If

you think about the summer parks

program, we have a lot of teenagers who

work for us. Yes. As paid program folks

and uh so I don't know if these interns

are going to be college level or high

school level. That will matter, right?

And so but it it's it's not something

new to the city.

>> Okay. Uh Mr.

>> We had we had two interns last year. Um

it's actually in the budget this year

and we expect maybe having two more and

uh one was a college student, one was a

high school student and they worked out

very well. They did a lot of research on

on the collective bargaining agreements

and things like that. So they were they

were very instrumental.

>> You found it pretty beneficial.

>> Yeah, actually was they were they

started before Antonio came on board. So

they sort of bridged a little gap there.

So

>> So you replaced kids, Antonio, I'm

joking. [laughter]

Um, and all jokes aside, um, we spoke

about the, uh, round table, the equity

round table. Uh, is that something that

is still continuing? I know it was

something Mr. Singleton was very

passionate about. I didn't know, um, you

coming into the new role or your new

role. Is that something you plan on

continuing?

>> I I attended a few.

I I believe that because I did not um

quite understand

the premise because I had nothing to go

off of

>> right with the Y

>> I I don't if the if the mayor wants me

to continue on I will.

>> Okay. That continuity document would

have been

>> it would have been helpful.

>> Okay. Okay. Understood. And then I guess

my final question, um, what's your plan

or objectives to better utilize the

current MBE, WBE, DBE list we have to,

uh, better assist the current, uh,

contractors or businesses we work with

to try to get them more RFPs or more

contracts or work within the city

parameters?

>> Yes, and that's a good question. Thank

you for that. So, I met with Mr. Steve

Bortner yesterday

and

he had showed me how I can act well

actually see what was missing from a

report that was given to me who the

vendors are. Um, I

received

an updated list from Ahmad that has more

on our list that he's building than what

was in Munice.

So, Ahmad contacts them, they email, and

that's how we're getting the word out

about our our programming.

>> Okay. And, um, I I think I heard about

[clears throat] a newsletter, correct? a

new letter coming from the office. Would

that be something you would be willing

to do? Kind of tie the current list in

to the newsletters moving forward just

so they're in the know. They're privy to

all new information so maybe they have

kind of first crack at some things

coming into the city.

>> Absolutely. And and thank you for that

because I didn't think of I did not

think of that. It really powerful tool

and I really think that that is a part

of being transparent and I think that if

other contractor contractors see that

and are like oh they are working with

the city of Harrisburg I they would be

more inclined to. So thank you for that.

>> Absolutely. Uh nothing further madam

vice president. Thank you.

>> Thank you very much. Councilman Jones.

Any questions?

>> Yes. Uh thank you Vice President Green.

Um thank you for your presentation. Um,

one of the questions I'll ask is, and

I'm not going to keep you long, um,

you talked about, um, you implemented

data transparency that drives measurable

outcomes. Can you expound on what those

outcomes are? Um, have you been able to

give an example? Have you been able to

work with contractors to get them into

positions with developers? And can you

explain um, have you been able to do

that?

being here for four months and it'll be

five um December 14th.

I

have worked with some contractors.

Um

but the outcomes because my programming

is so new,

there's nothing that I can provide just

yet. and I've been here for four months

and I provided you a lot of the

accomplishments

and I have one I have one working

program now

in keeping in touch with um the

contractors that well communicating with

the contractors that we do have on the

list.

I can't tell you how many there are, but

I know it's over 150 that's on that

list. So, when Ahmad contacts them and

then I have their information, I

definitely reach out to them. So, and

you're saying working with them. Yes,

I'm working with them. I'm making sure

that they have access to pin bid. Um I

think the misconception is you know for

any bidding opportunity any projects

that is um presenting itself for the

city. I'm working with them and making

sure that they are aware. Um I think the

misconception let's say with pin bid is

it may go into a spam folder. It may

they may have unregistered. So I just

ensure that they are still registered so

they can get that information and

knowing what is happening in the city.

So off the top of my head I apologize I

can't give you that number but I can get

it to you.

>> Okay. I just want to for the record um

this is what you presented. So I just

asked this question because you said you

had data that has transparency that has

driven

>> what I said is 2026

that's in 2026.

>> All right. Okay. Um

the other thing is uh

the compliance side. What does that look

like for you?

Here's

why I'm asking. Because previous prior

to you coming um and we talk about the

spend, I know President Hill was talking

about the spend. Um may Mr. Singleton

rest in peace. He did have numbers. Um

last year around this time we spent

about $35 million with um contractors.

2.7%

were MBE DBE and I wanted to go inside

of that 2.7% to see what actually were

local contractors and vendors being able

to get on these uh projects. And so um

right now just sitting here and um being

able to talk with developers that come

through council to get approval um they

some of them have been reaching out to

to um ensure that uh we are using local

uh vendors and contractors to get on

these contracts. So, um, when we see

equity, you talked a lot about equity,

um, but the compliance side, and I was

just wondering if there was a plan to

see if, um, you do get DBE, MBE, uh,

individuals into these places, what does

the compliance side look like for you?

>> And we do, but again, I had nothing to

go off of. So, that number that you just

mentioned,

I'm not privy to that. I don't know

that. So coming in in in 4 months and

doing what was asked of me to do um

I

>> I want to be clear. I'm not this is not

a dig. I'm really asking

>> taking it as a dick.

>> I'm asking I'm giving you the numbers

right because they are there and you

mentioned it yourself. You know Ahmad

shared some things with you. They they

were there these

>> and uh and if I may, Councilman Jones,

the reporting that happened then showed

numbers. It did not show the vendors. I

did not know what I was looking at. So

that was a concern and is a concern for

me. That's why we started all over. I

can see a whole bunch of numbers and see

5% here. But what it did not show me

>> was that

>> are these if it fluctuated are these the

vendors that we're constantly using is

are these vendors that because it's the

winter months um it might be a little

lower. Um I did not there was not there.

>> Let me try to rephrase my questions.

Okay. I I give you uh the benefit of the

doubt that you you didn't have a bunch

of informations. Moving forward, what

does compliance look like to you? Moving

forward with compliance is making sure

that everyone

and with the equity has a seat at the

table and that I am providing the the

most support and to these contractors

and that they are that I am making sure

that they are privy to the opportunities

that are here within the city. um right

now. If that's not a a good enough

answer,

I didn't say that. Um Councilman Jones,

I'm not taking offense to anything that

you're saying. What I'm what I'm telling

you is I really wish

that I had the appropriate reports

because I don't like sitting here not

being able to completely answer a

question. So,

>> so right now you have you have a canvas

that's blank. It's yours.

>> Yeah.

>> You're you're new. This is this is

yours. [clears throat]

So, I'm I'm still

>> I'm sorry.

>> But I'm still asking you a question.

>> Um this is a blank canvas and it's

yours. So, I'm asking what does

compliance not what who was here before

that? All this is you. It's your show.

What does compliance look like?

>> So, [clears throat]

>> [laughter]

[gasps]

>> Compliance to me is making sure that I

am supporting and providing the right

amount of information and resources to

our contractors.

>> That's it. But [laughter] but what I

will say is that moving forward and I

and these conversations are very

beneficial for me because one of the

things that I don't like is rework. So I

will be highlighting that in my

quarterly report.

>> Mr. Sowski, you had something sir.

>> Yeah. Going back to the numbers you gave

a little earlier. I remember hearing

those numbers last year. So I think it

was sometime in mid to end of February,

>> same around the same time. Well, it was

a quarter when we had public quarterly

reports. It was one in the in the third

quarter somewhere close to getting into

budgets. But go ahead.

>> Well, I actually met with Mr. Singleton

at that point and I I we had a

discussion about uh refocusing efforts

towards helping minority contractors to

be able to go through the bidding

process to get contracts with the city.

Unfortunately, he passed away a couple

weeks later. Yeah.

>> It never got accomplished. So, I'm glad

that uh she's on board at the present

time because she's actually going full

boore into developing those kinds of

>> Did you guys ever make those numbers

available to her and explain what they

were?

>> I I I don't remember. I didn't give it

to her. No, but I would assume

because there was still a person in the

office. So, I think

>> Mr. She had had access to all those

files. So if they weren't in those

files, I'm not sure where they were.

>> Got you. Solicitor Grover.

>> Oh, I thought you was going to say

something.

>> If I may, if I

>> you setting up, I know you do.

>> No, if I may, it's just the way things

were done. It was just the way of how it

was reported and they knew. But if I'm

coming in and I wanted to see what

vendor is this, like who is this? Is

what what a DBE. Okay. Disadvantaged

business um enterprise, but MWE like

what? Like I did not see that they Ahmad

knew. He knows. It's just the way that

it was reported

>> and and that's I mean again this is no

fault of yours. I'm just asking. So um

when we're um asking these questions,

you may not be prepared for everything.

Granted, you only here six four four or

five months or whatnot, right? However,

again, um you know, and I think this

position as it's designed and you heard

council president read the description

and the scope of work, um far too long

in this city, um developers have been

coming into the city of Harrisburg. Um

and and we have not been a part of the

economic growth. That's what I ran on as

council that I would be ensuring and

fighting to ensure that local um

contractors are Harrisburg based

contractors are included in the economic

growth. And so um again, you know, we

had a lot of discussion, Mr. Singleton

and I around this and those numbers and

looking at at that. So if there's

anything I can do to assist in that

regard, um feel free to reach out. I can

give you any any information and to help

with that compliance part. I think um

that's a that's a huge task to to I mean

you know some people will come in front

of us and say hey we're going to do 20%

and we're not allowed to legally bind

them to that um as council we can't do

that but um we can check and see if

they're keeping their word you know so

that's what I was asking what does

compliance look like so that's all this

is that's all I'm just asking a few

questions and you have something going

>> no I appreciate it I I appreciate it Um

I don't know anything but to be

successful.

>> Okay.

>> And this is a reflection. So um yeah,

I'm welcome you a conversation. Um and

if you have any ideas,

>> this is what this looks like. This is

what community looks like. So working

together.

>> So thank you.

>> Yeah. No further questions.

>> Thank you very much, Councilman Jones.

Uh I don't really have any questions for

you. I guess just kind of some thoughts,

comments, followup. Um I'll start with

following up uh from Councilman Jones

comments about compliance and what

compliance looks like.

>> I think one thing that we've

continuously had the discussion about uh

even with Mr. Singleton is that we have

nothing to require compliance with,

right? We had a compliance officer with

no policy that required compliance. So

it's like what is the job really what

does that part of the job really entail?

It's kind of like asking you to comply

with nothing. Uh it's a really easy job.

you don't have to do anything. Um, so I

think that's something that the legal

departments worked on. Uh, with the the

change in the federal administration, I

think that kind of changed the way, uh,

we were moving in that that um, sense.

Um, I will say it sounds like you need a

an update to your job description. Uh,

just because it seems like most of the

work that you're doing really does focus

on uh, economic development, which is

something that we've discussed and

really pushed. Um, and it's something

the city needs. But we also need to make

sure that your do job description

matches uh what you're being tasked to

do because that's really important

because if not, you come before council

and we go, "Well, where's the reports?

Where is this? Where's that?" Because

your job description says you should be

doing A, B, and C, and you're doing E,

F, and G.

>> Um, and so it kind of creates that

disconnect. So, uh, as far as the

administration, um, I would maybe look

for an update to the job description to

ensure that what we're asking, um,

someone to do is what their job

description says they're supposed to do.

um because that's really important. Uh

as far as internships, I'm glad to hear

that. Um I think I've pushed for

internships for a very long time. Um I

did an internship with the city. Uh and

it wasn't like it was an internship

poster. I just came down was like, "Hey,

what do you guys have because I need

something." Um and kind of had to push

for myself to create that, but everyone

doesn't have access, right? And

everyone's not just going to show up and

say, "Hey, can I can I do an internship?

Can I do an internship here?" And that

was under the previous administration um

that I did that internship. But it's

something that's much needed. It's great

to know that the mayor has been having

interns and the business business

administrators been having interns um

because I think that's news to most

council members and I think it's

something that should be opened up to

all departments. So um I look forward to

to that coming to fruition. Um

as far as legacy, I think uh something

you spoke to is very important that we

talk to um we talk to it all the time,

right? having that legacy for after we

leave. Um I think we talk about it when

it comes to it, the fact that we pay a

person every year because they're the

only one that can work the mainframe

system. Uh so making sure we have that

continuous education so that even when

someone hits the lottery and decides to

leave the city, uh we still have that

information available to keep our city

running uh and smoothly. Uh I don't

think I have any other questions. I

didn't have any questions. I don't think

I have any other comments. Um, I will

say thank you for the work that you've

done and I look forward to can seeing

the word continue and I believe

President Hill has something else, but I

will let you uh respond to me first if

you need to.

>> Thank you. Um, that's why I led with the

difference or the the um evolution of

the um the position my my role. Um, like

I said, the foundation was laid, but I

didn't have anything to fall back on.

And Ahmad,

uh, being in the position that he was in

as the special assistant, I'm not going

to say he didn't try, but if I don't

visually see what I need to connect the

dots with, it was hard for me to um to

get it. So, that's why we're making

changes in the office and reporting.

But, thank you.

>> Thank you very much. president have any

questions or comments or

>> Thank you. One additional question and

then um just a comment. So my question

is around the internship program. Where

is the appropriation and maybe that's a

question for Mr. Solowski

>> for all of the interns that you

mentioned. So will Okay, another

question. the two interns that were in

the mayor's office,

>> are they going to be a part of the hope

program or are these two separate

opportunities for students to uh

participate as interns with the city?

>> Well, there that that line item is in

the BA's uh budget. Okay.

>> It was not last year. So, we piggybacked

off the temporary program to be able to

do that because I got here late last

year. So the budget was pretty much

already done by the time I got here. So

So when we went to look to do an

internship, there wasn't the line item

there. So we had to in the worked with

Sasha to to piggyback off off of that

program and we're able to get to

interns. So actually this year it's

actually now in the business

administrator's budget.

>> Okay.

Maybe I'm missing something. Okay. Well,

thank you. So there'll be two

functioning programs. So if you see a

line item for $8,000, that's probably

what it is. We under the personel like

temporary or something like that.

>> No. Oh, I see. Yes, it is proposed for

$8,000. So, this will assist the two

interns in the mayor's office and

however many. We don't know how many

students for the hope program.

>> That I think that would be a separate

program.

>> Oh, that's going to be a separate

appropriation. Okay. Now,

The two interns that served previously

were were they paid or unpaid? You said

the appropriate Oh, how much were they

paid a stipen or what?

>> They're paid hourly. They worked like 20

hours a week each. Uh so it was like one

full-time position. Two people but one

but two separate people. Um

>> is there a need for two separate

programs though? I mean, what you

mentioned that they conducted research

prior to the hiring of your assistant,

but it seems like competing interests

almost.

>> Well, I think one worked for my office

pretty much exclusively, one worked for

the mayor and communication

office,

>> right?

>> So,

>> but she mentioned that with this hope

internship program that she anticipates

getting started, these interns will be

in different departments throughout the

city. Yeah, and their high school

students and we have made people aware

of it and if you want to do an

internship program this year to to get

on board and I think public works has uh

we had we last year we went and talked

to planning to see whether we would we

wanted to share them with the planning

office too. So there was there was

enough work for both of them. It wasn't

quite as organized because it was the

first time we had it. Uh um

>> so there your your program was not as

formalized as it sounds like the hope

program will be.

>> Well be formalized next year but wasn't

formalized this year because it was sort

of the first time.

>> And did the students that participated

in your office and the mayor's office

did they complete a final project or did

they was the research that they

conducted sufficient for the a

successful internship? Well, we had

offered to do an ac I mean to give

academic credit because the one student

was a was a uh student at Syracuse

University. She was local. She was went

to high school in in this area that she

she declined that she just wanted the

paid internship.

>> Whether they come back or not, I don't

know. But uh but we uh

>> So, how were they selected? How did

anyone know about this? Did they have to

complete an application, write an essay,

or they just came here and showed up?

>> They they applied. Oh, okay.

>> So, we went through we went through the

application. We did an interview

process.

>> Oh, how many people applied?

>> Oh, two.

>> Oh, two. Oh, so anybody that basically

applied was awarded. So, maybe I'm just

trying to think if the HOPE internship

program is geared toward junior and

senior high schoolers. Perhaps the

interns in the mayor and the business

administrator's office if they're

needed. It just sounds like a little bit

too much going on, especially not as

formalized. Maybe those students could

be college students looking for a summer

internship.

>> So, thank you for that question. And um

when I came on board, I came on and

there were interns. Um what I Well, for

the hope program, it is going to be high

school, junior, seniors, and college.

>> Oh, you didn't say that. You said I'm

sorry, ma'am. I did. because I said I'll

be meeting with um Dr. Ski at

>> Oh yeah, you said that meeting hadn't

happened yet either. Okay, I missed

that. I thought it was just juniors and

senior high school students, but I do

think that is something to consider. I

know that you're you're saying your

program is pretty solidified in its

scope, but I think that um but to me it

just doesn't make sense. If you said the

scope of this internship program is to

have students in every department, that

would mean that there are interns in the

mayor's office, not separate interns is

what I'm saying. Like it does that

doesn't make sense to me. I

>> Yeah, it should be one program.

>> I did not look at it the way that you're

perceiving it. So, and it's because

these were they were already here. my

what I talked to the mayor it's my

understanding that they're going to be a

part of the hope internship program it

doesn't make sense to have separate

interns

>> so it it and also anybody that's a part

of the hope internship program if they

want to work at a bank they can be

referred to a bank

>> but I thought the purpose of this

specific internship program was to

create a pipeline for city employment

was I wrong in hearing that

>> no it's not anybody additional. I'm not

going to I'm not going to hold

>> anyone back from accessing opportunity.

So if I if there's a student that come

if there's somebody that comes to me and

they say, "Do you have any resources?

I'd like to work at the bank." Sure.

I've established these partnerships with

four different financial institutions.

Of course. Um and and where did you get

that information from? Oh, I got it

through the hope program. So, okay. You

you understand?

>> So, you want it to be a pipeline for

everyone else or

other people.

>> You're integrating the funds the money

is going coming back into the city. So,

when somebody is well, if somebody is

employed

>> somewhere and they go to um a store,

>> well, I don't want to go back and forth

with hypotheticals. I just wanted to

note that all of the interns, if the

hope program, internship program is

operating within the city of Harrisburg,

then all interns should be

participating.

>> Yes. So, I guess that's something you

can coordinate with the mayor's office

and the business administrator. I just

wanted to say hi to Mr. Carpenter. I

don't have any other questions. Hi, Mr.

Carpenter.

>> I don't have any other questions. Thank

you.

>> Thank you.

>> Thank you very much. Are there any other

questions or comments for the Office of

Equity and Compliance?

Seeing none, thank you very much for

being here this evening and thank you

for your presentation.

>> Thank you.

>> Excuse me.

>> Not yet. There is a public comment

opportunity, but we have to go through

the rest of the agenda first.

Well, if you wouldn't mind waiting, I I

don't know how long the rest of this

will take, but if you wouldn't mind

waiting and then we'll move to public

comment. Thank you.

We are going to move to the office of

the city solicitor.

If you wouldn't mind introducing

yourself, going through your

presentation, and then we will open up

for questioning at the end.

>> Thank you, Madame Vice President. My

name is Neil Anthony Nicholas Grover.

I [laughter]

>> um

the uh I am the city solicitor having uh

completing my 12th year in that position

after a year and a half representing the

city council in a private uh special

counsel role. Uh with me tonight is Ti

Cameron, the deputy city solicitor. Um

and uh we are here to speak about the

budget tonight. Um, I first want to

thank the budget chair for reminding me

that the lottery is tonight because I

hadn't bought a ticket yet. And so I

will have to go do that for $920

million.

Uh, the uh, but we have prepared, my

staff has prepared a very nice overview,

much more skilled than I could have done

with a PowerPoint. And I want to thank

them for putting the time and effort

into this. Um but if we can go to the

slides, we have tried to comport to the

council's request for what would go into

one of these uh overviews. Under the

supervision of the city solicitor, law

bureau is required to do the following.

Uh direct and control the city's legal

matters. Prepare and otherwise review

all contracts. Draft and otherwise

review all legislation.

Enforce and defend the rights of the

city before local, state, and federal

agencies and courts. Manage the right to

know requests made to the city. Advise

on the legal strategy and resolutions of

all claims and disputes. Select and

oversee outside legal counsel to

represent the city public officials and

city staff in administrative and

judicial proceedings.

Review and advise city officials and

staff regarding compliance and other

legal obligations on a wide range of

matters. Address rights and obligations

of real and personal property of the

city. And the longest the one is

actually the last other duties as

assigned. And anyone who works in the

law bureau knows that in any interview I

tell them that's their real job is other

duties as assigned because whatever

comes through the door today is landing

on someone's desk. Uh next please sir.

Um significant budget changes. Uh there

are um one I think significant we

brought back the legal line item to the

2024 uh um level. That line item pays

for litigation related expenses. Um it

is going up $50,000. Last year it went

down 50 based on this year's anticipated

litigation. Um in our field in the

information that's coming, the cost of

litigation is simply increasing. The

complexity of litigation is increasing.

Um we are like everyone else being

somewhat impacted by people's use of

artificial intelligence and they are

providing much more long detailed things

we have to pull apart and it's just it's

more expensive on time and money to do

it.

>> Madam Chair, point of order. It's a