Harrisburg City Council Meeting - 12/29/2025

Um, Harrisburg City Council hosted an

executive session prior to the start of

tonight's special legislative session to

discuss a personnel matter.

The time is uh 6:17

p.m. I would like to officially call our

special legislative session to order.

>> Mr. Trudale, could you please call the

role?

>> Miss Daniels,

>> here.

>> Miss Davis,

>> present.

>> Miss Green,

>> present.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> here.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> present.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> present. Miss Hill

>> present.

The invocation this evening will be led

by Councilman Jones. Um and I will lead

the pledge of allegiance. Councilman

Jones.

>> Yeah. Um I want to ask everybody for a

moment of silence for a lot of the

people um in our community in our

neighborhood some pillars. Um we know

one notable titan that uh Mr. uh Lynwood

Salone and there are some other families

that I can't get out of my head right

now, but I do want to um ask for a

moment of silence for a lot of people

that have lost their lives um over this

holiday season and a lot of people that

are struggling in our community. So, if

you would join me for a moment of

silence.

Thank you.

>> Thank you, Councilman Jones. If everyone

could please rise for the pledge of

allegiance.

United States of America and to the

stands one nation

indivisible

and justice for all.

>> We do not have any communications this

evening. I will open the floor for

courtesy of the floor. Just a few

housekeeping notes before we begin.

Please state your name and your address

for the meeting record. If you don't

feel comfortable sharing your address,

please share the vicinity in which you

live within the city. You will have four

minutes to share your comments. Mr.

Trudale has added a timer to the screen

for your reference. I will begin to my

right. Is there anyone who would like to

offer public comment?

Okay. Seeing and hearing no one, anyone

in the middle section.

Okay.

Good evening, madam madam president and

honorable members of Harrisburg City

Council. My name is Ronald Chapel. I'm a

longtime resident of Harrisburg. My

address is 2560 Brookwood. I want to ask

you to override the mayor's veto. And I

saying that I think that this is a

honorable and selfless uh thing that

you're doing. It shows that you are

truly concerned with the residents of

Harrisburg and that you're not uh taking

your position for self gain. You know,

many times when people apply for

positions or in case in this case be

reelected to a position, they know full

well what the position pays before they

go in. And then for them to say once

they have uh been granted that position

to say, "Oh, but wait a minute. I want

more money. I think that is wrong. I

think that is wrong. The question might

be asked whether voters of Harrisburg

played. This is tanamount to taking your

vehicle to a mechanic and you agree upon

a price of $500, but soon as he gets

your vehicle, he said, "No, I want

$800."

In that case, you might have taken it to

some else. In this case, you may have

elected someone else. So, I think that

is a courageous and selfish thing that

you're doing over writing the mayor's

veto and I ask that you do that. Thank

you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section that would like to offer

public comment?

>> Okay, seeing and hearing no one, anyone

to my left?

Seeing and hearing no one, we will Oh,

I'm sorry.

I'm sorry, Mr. Williams. I didn't see

you.

take it off.

Good evening. Um, Madame President Hill

and city council members. My name is

Robert Williams, lifelong resident of

Harrisburg, current resident of Capitol

Heights area of Harrisburg. I'm here to

commend y'all for standing up for the

process

of the department heads

that are in office unlawfully.

I'm also would like to say that this

administration

fails so many processes.

They they don't follow the process of

citizens complaints against police

officers. We have an officer sitting

right here right now and that has three

lawsuits pending against him.

It's just ridiculous. It's just no

process is being followed. We have a

mayor

that we were paying

hundred,000 over 100,000 in legals fees.

What was that process? How did that

happen? How did they get admnified for

something that was ruled a ethics

complaint and not a part of her job? It

was rude, a personal benefit. So, Hawaii

or the city taxpayers paying $31,000 for

ethics attorney for something that was a

personal benefit and not part of her

marital job.

I'm tired of coming to these meetings or

watching them and hearing the legal

department

you tight broke the law.

It's clear they know that 120 days is a

statutory limit or they wouldn't put a

interim title to skirt around you guys

authority.

That's the reason why you change the

title and put oh it's the law says

acting so I'll put an interim so I could

have a impermanent position

and then to state that is foolish on

your behalf. No it's foolish on

administration's behalf. This this

position was defunded last year for

Gloria Martin Roberts. You had a whole

year to find someone. February of 2025.

Samuel Sakowski was denied advice and

consent. You had over 10 months to find

another person. So to blame them when

you had plenty of time to find other

people is utter ridiculousness.

That's all I have to say.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else that

would like to offer public comment? I

don't want to miss anyone.

Okay. Seeing and hearing none, we will

move forward with our meeting agenda.

Our sole

agenda item this evening is to override

the mayoral veto. Um,

there were four amendments

that were vetoed

by Mayor Williams

to bill 12 of 2025. Mr. Chisel, could

you please read bill 12 of 2025 into the

record?

>> Bill 12, 2025, an ordinance establishing

the budget for the municipal government

of the city of Harrisburg for the year

2026.

Thank you.

Mr. Trudeelle, could you please read the

first amendment that was vetoed?

>> Yes. This is an amendment to the 2026

proposed budget for the Department of

Building and Housing, eliminating the

general fund funding in the proposed

2026 budget under salaries and wages for

the position of interimm director for

building and housing development.

Thank you,

council members. Are there any final

questions, comments, or concerns related

to the uh proposed amendment?

>> You could could lobby just give us an um

a review. A vote yes means what and a

vote no means what?

>> Thank you.

>> A a vote yes means to override the veto.

A vote no means not to override the

veto. Uh the the law requires five votes

of supermajority to override a veto of

the mayor.

>> Thank you. Are there any other

questions, comments, or concerns?

>> Okay,

Mr. Trudeale, could you please call the

vote?

>> Miss Daniels,

>> yes.

>> Miss Davis,

>> no.

Miss Green,

>> no.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> The amendment passes by a vote of 5 to

two.

>> Thank you.

Mr. Trudeale, could you please read the

second amendment?

This is an amendment to the 2026

proposed budget for the business

administrator's office by eliminating

the funding in the proposed 2026 budget

under salaries and wages for the

position of business administrator.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any questions, comments, or concerns

related to the second amendment?

>> Okay, seeing hearing none, Mr. Trudeale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Daniels,

>> yes.

Miss Davis,

>> no.

>> Miss Green,

>> no.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> The amendment passes by vote of 5 to2.

>> Thank you. Mr. Trudale, could you please

read the third amendment?

Yes, this one is to amend or this

amendment is the 2026 proposed budget

for the department of building and

housing by eliminating the funding in

the proposed 2026 budget under salaries

and wages for the position of project

director for business development/erta

administrator.

>> Thank you council members. Are there any

final questions, comments or concerns

related to amendment number three?

Okay, seeing hearing none, Mr. Trusdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Daniels,

>> yes.

>> Miss Davis,

>> no.

>> Miss Green,

>> no.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> The amendment passes by vote of 5 to

two.

>> Thank you. Mr. Trudale, could you please

read the fourth amendment?

>> This amendment pertains to the 2026

proposed budget for the Bureau of Police

by eliminating the proposed funding in

the 2026 budget under salaries and wages

for the position of director of

community engagement and relations.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to the fourth

amendment?

Okay. Seeing

>> I just wanted to ask um this would be uh

the CSA current director's position um

in the conversation as to the redundancy

because they kind of report to Captain

Widner at the same time. That's the role

that we're talking about right now.

>> Yes, that's the correct role. You're

welcome. Any other questions, comments,

or concerns? Okay. Seeing and hearing

none, Mr. Trudale, could you please call

the vote?

>> Miss Daniels?

>> No.

Miss Davis,

>> no.

>> Miss Green,

>> no.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rolls,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> The amendment fails by vote of four to

three.

>> Sorry, I meant to say yes. Can I change

my vote or is it too late?

I it's up to the presiding officer. You

want me to recall it?

>> Yes.

>> Yes. Mr. Trudale, could you please

recall the vote for amendment number

four?

>> Miss Daniels.

>> Uh, I couldn't hear what you said. What

happened?

>> Sorry. We are recalling the vote for

amendment number four. Can you please

read amendment number four just for

everybody's reference again?

>> Sorry.

>> That's okay. So, this amendment is to

the 2026 proposed budget for the Bureau

of Police, eliminating the proposed

funding in the 2026 budget under

salaries and wages for the position of

director of community engagement and

relations.

>> Thank you. Are there any questions

before we recall the vote? Any final

questions, comments, or concerns?

>> Just an apology.

>> Okay. Apology accepted. Mr. Trudeale,

could you please call the vote? Miss

Daniels,

>> no.

>> Miss Davis,

>> yes.

>> No.

>> Miss Green,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Jones,

>> yay.

>> Miss Rose,

>> yes.

>> Mr. Rodri Rodriguez,

>> yes.

>> Miss Hill,

>> yes.

>> This amendment passes by a vote of five

to two.

>> Thank you,

council members.

Is there any old business for

discussion?

>> Yes, I would like to discuss uh

resolution one of 2024.

>> Councilwoman Ross.

>> Thank you. I would like to make an

amendment to resolution one of 2024. Uh

I would like to move to amend resolution

one of 2024 which spec um which is a

rule number one a of one by changing the

time for the assembly of council to

organize and elect a president and vice

president of council on the first Monday

of January from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. for

the upcoming reorganization meeting

only. So that I have a motion on the

>> move second. Oh, you have multiple.

Thank you. Um, do you have a desire to

suspend the rules for discussion or is

everybody fine and clear that we are

amending the council rules?

>> The amendment for the one time change.

Correct. Correct.

>> This is temporary.

Thank you for saying it.

>> Okay. So, there is a motion on the

floor. It has been properly seconded.

>> Any questions? Yes.

>> Yes. Yes. President Hill. Uh, I couldn't

hear. What is the uh the motion?

>> Okay, one second. I will ask

Councilwoman Ross to read it again for

you.

>> Can you hear me? Uh Councilwoman Davis.

>> Yes, I can hear you a little better now,

Councilwoman.

>> Okay, I'll speak louder into the mic,

too. So I would I move to amend

resolution one of 2024

which is rule number one A by changing

the time for the assembly of council to

organize and elect a president and vice

president of council on the first Monday

of January from 12 noon to 5:30 p.m. for

the upcoming reorganization meeting only

and this is temporary.

>> Okay. Thank you. I

>> Thank you.

>> Okay. Are there any other questions,

comments, or concerns?

Okay. Seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Trudale, could you please call the vote?

>> Miss Daniels?

>> Yes.

>> Miss Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Miss Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Miss Rolls?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Miss Hill?

>> Yes. The motion passes by vote of seven

to zero.

>> Thank you. Is there any other old

business? Council members.

Okay. Seeing hearing none, any new

business?

>> Um just to wish everybody a happy new

year.

>> Yes. Yes. And I was going to say there

is going to be a New Year's Eve um party

or neo disco party here uh on Wednesday.

I don't know exactly what time it

starts, but I know DJ MV is supposed to

be here, whoever listens to the

breakfast club in the morning. So,

>> and I just wanted to thank all the

residents and administration media that

came out for today's meeting. Although

it is in the cold heart of the holidays,

it's essential nonetheless. So, happy

holidays. I wish everyone a happy new

year and uh let's continue to move move

forward. Thank you.

>> Thank you. I hope everyone has a safe

and happy new year. I can't believe 2026

is days away. Be safe everyone. The time

is 6:34 p.m. I will entertain a motion

to adjurnn.

>> Motion to adjurnn.

>> Okay. Thank you very much. We stand

adjourn.