Harrisburg City Council Legislative Session 3/10/2026

Mhm.

>> Good evening. Thank you. That wasn't

free press. We had a group photo

scheduled prior to the start of our

legislative session.

We're going to conduct our legislative

caucus prior to calling our legislative

session to order. Mr. Truesdale will

lead our roll call. I will lead the

invocation this evening. The Pledge of

Allegiance will be led by Councilwoman

Davis.

For communications, we have a

presentation on the Downtown Improvement

District's annual St. Patrick's Day

Parade.

Mr. Todd Vander Woody, executive

director, and Sydney Musser, social

media and marketing specialist, will

lead that presentation.

Then we will open the floor for courtesy

of the floor, followed by the approval

of the minutes for the legislative

session that occurred on February 24th,

2026.

There are two committee reports that you

will hear this evening. I will deliver

the first report on behalf of the

administration committee on the work

session of March 3rd, 2026.

The next report will be delivered by our

Public Works Committee Chair, Councilman

Rodriguez, on the work session of March

3rd, 2026.

We do not have any ordinances for first

reading. There are three ordinances for

amendment, bill two of 2026, bill three

of 2026, and bill four of 2026.

There are three

ordinances for final passage, bill two

of 2026,

bill three of 2026,

and bill four of 2026.

We will then move to resolutions.

The first resolution for consideration

is resolution 10 of 2026, which we will

vote upon.

Resolution 11 of 2026,

which we we vote upon.

Resolution 12 of 2026,

which we will vote upon.

Resolution 13 of 2026, which we will

vote upon.

Resolution 14 of 2026,

which we will vote upon.

Resolution resolution 15 of 2026,

which we will vote upon.

Resolution 16 of 2026

will move to the administration

committee.

Resolution 17 of 2026,

we will vote upon this evening.

I will request a suspension of the rules

for discussion.

Resolution 18 of 2026

will move to the budget and finance

committee.

And then resolution 19 of 2026

will move to the administration

committee.

Is there any old business for

discussion, council members?

Seeing hearing none, any new business?

Seeing and hearing none, then we will

adjourn.

Okay, the time is 6:10 p.m. I'd like to

officially call our legislative session

to order.

Mr. Chisolm, could you please call the

roll?

>> Ms. Davis.

>> Present.

>> Ms. Green.

>> Present.

>> Mr. Jones.

>> Here.

>> Mr. Lawson.

>> Here.

>> Ms. Rose.

>> Present.

>> Mr. Rodriguez.

>> Present.

>> Ms. Hill.

>> Present.

>> I will lead the invocation this evening.

I would like to ask to please keep the

following residents, families, and

friends in your thoughts and prayers in

the coming weeks and months ahead.

Mr. Hazel McWhite received his formal

education in the Harrisburg School

District. He was a proud graduate of

William Penn High School. He was a

talented member of the track team.

He was later employed with Harrisburg

Public Transportation where he retired.

Ms. Linda Poteat, she was a loving

mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and

friend.

Ms. Kay Smith, she received her formal

education in the Harrisburg School

District. She was a proud graduate of

Harrisburg High School. In her leisure,

she enjoyed watching classic television

shows. She will be remembered for her

loving heart, kind spirit, and generous

nature.

Reverend Dr. Calvin Edmond Sr. He was a

long-time city resident who began his

ministry at Macedonia Missionary Baptist

Church. He also held leadership and

administrative roles with the

Pennsylvania Department of Education and

the Pennsylvania Department of Health

where he retired in 1998.

In his leisure, he enjoyed traveling the

world including trips across North

America, Africa, Asia Minor,

Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean.

Pastor John Wesley Manigault,

affectionately known as JW, moved to

Harrisburg in 1965.

He established C&J Drywall with his

partner, Reverend Cleveland Martin. He

will be remembered for his stylish dress

and his smile which could brighten up

any room.

Ms. Robin Freeman, she received her

formal education in the Harrisburg

School District. She graduated from

Harrisburg High School where she

participated in JROTC

and she was a member of the basketball

team. She was employed by the Harrisburg

School District where she served as a

security officer. In her leisure, she

enjoyed arts and crafts.

And we will continue to keep the family

of Ms. Tierza Cameron, Deputy Solicitor,

in our thoughts and prayers in the

months and weeks ahead. If everyone

could please join me in a moment of

silence.

Thank you.

The Pledge of Allegiance will be led by

a Councilwoman Davis.

Thank you, Councilwoman Davis.

For communications this evening, we are

joined by Mr. Todd Vander Woody,

Executive Director, and Ms. Sydney

Musser, Social Media and Marketing

Specialist, with the Downtown

Improvement District to discuss the

annual St. Patrick's Day Parade.

>> Well, good evening.

Again, I'm Todd Vander Woody, the

Executive Director for the Harrisburg

Downtown Improvement District, and with

me I have Sydney Musser, who's our

Social Media and Marketing Specialist

and coordinator of the parade again this

year. And

thank you for the opportunity to be here

this evening.

We get to talk about the upcoming St.

Patrick's Day Parade, which is going to

be a week from Saturday,

uh uh, March 21st.

Uh the parade starts at 2:00 in the

afternoon. Um,

I'm going to talk a little, uh, Sydney's

going to talk about the parade. I'm

going to talk a little bit about the

activities running up to the parade. Um,

so with regards to the parade, um,

of course it's here in downtown. Uh,

we're going to line up the groups, um,

just like with the city's holiday

parade. We'll line up the groups,

uh, on City Island and the Market Street

Bridge. Um, they will go, uh, over the

Market Street Bridge, uh, traveling to

Second Street and turning left. And, uh,

the stage will be set up, uh, right out

front of the City Government Center

here,

um,

uh, for viewing. And, um,

so

the parade will continue on down Second

Street and then turn left up on North

Street up by the Y and then go to Front

Street and then back to the island.

Uh, again, a a map of the parade route,

um, and a list of the road closures,

Sydney's going to go over those here in

a little bit, um, but it can be found on

our parade website, which is

harrisburgstpatricksdayparade.com.

Uh, before the parade, uh, we have

another exciting event here for

downtown, very unique, uh, event. It's

the Lucky Charm 4-Mile Race. Um, a lot

of races in the area, of course, are

5K's, which is 3.1 miles, 10K's, 6.2

miles, of course half marathon,

marathon, all that stuff, but this is

something a little different. Uh, the

Lucky Charm, uh, 4-Mile Race,

um, which again, it kind of opens the

racing season, uh, here in the

Harrisburg area. The race will start at

noon and it's very unique in the effect

that

that it starts right at the stage, um,

right here in front of the City

Government

And they use the

uh, the route where they'll run up

Second Street right downtown here. Then

they'll eventually they'll cut over

to the Market Street Bridge, run around

City Island, come back into the city on

the Walnut Street Bridge, and then

finish right on the right in the stage

area again. So it starts and finishes

right at the at the parade stage. That's

very very unique. The runners absolutely

love it. running down Second Street

with the road closed. It's the same

closures as we use for the parade. So it

works out very well.

So each each runner that participates

will receive a medal and a customized

race t-shirt as well as a gift

certificate to Fleet Feet Mechanicsburg

who puts on the race for us. The race is

limited to 1,000 participants. And it

fills up each and every year

with that. So

again, there'll be age group

prizes

and awards presented.

And that'll be about 1:30. So as we're

present as the race finishes up, we'll

be setting up for the parade. But then

we'll do awards at the stage about 1:30

or so leading off to the kickoff of the

parade. And I'll turn it over to Sydney

for that.

>> All right. My name is Sydney. I'm the

parade organizer.

What a cool job this is. It's such a fun

event to plan and it brings a lot of

people downtown. And some of the groups

we have in the parade are just amazing.

It's really cool to see all the groups

across Pennsylvania in the community

that come to participate. So we

currently have over 60 groups

participating. So we anticipate the

parade to be about an hour in length.

It's perfect amount of time if you are

running in the race and you just want to

chill and watch the parade and then stay

after for some food. We have a lot of

our usual groups joining like the Blue

Moon Cruisers with a bunch of cool and

classical cars, the McGinley School of

Irish Dance,

uh, of course plenty of bagpipes. I'm

sure everybody loves hearing that. I

mean, you can't ignore it when it comes

echoing down Second Street. Um, so we

have Kilt Na Eve Pipe Band, Nittany

Highland Pipe Band. So, be sure to wear

your green and plenty of tartan.

Um, we have the Notre Dame Club of

Harrisburg, the Harrisburg Senators,

Perry County Old Iron Collectors, the

Steelton Highspire Marching Band, and

there are plenty of fire trucks from the

area, lots of departments that come to

participate. So, there is truly

something for everyone at the parade.

Um, and it's great for community groups

to get some visibility

and participate.

So,

um, that includes our sponsors and we

are very very fortunate to have so many

great community sponsors especially here

in downtown. Um, some of our sponsors

include Ace Distributing, Explore

Harrisburg, Cargill, Bourbon Street

Saloon, JB Love Drafts, Nocturnal, the

New Capital City Music Hall,

Sawyer's, Sheets, Zembie's, the PA

Sports Games and Capital Vending,

McGrath's Irish Pub, of course,

the Mad Moose, Sturges Speakeasy, and

Fleet Feet. Um, also of note, Todd had

mentioned that the, uh, Lucky Charm will

be occurring before the parade. There

will also be plenty of, uh, St. Patty's

themed, uh, parties after the parade um,

including at, um,

Nocturnal, at Sawyer's, at Bourbon

Street. Um, there will also be a Battle

of the Bands at Capital City Music Hall.

So, it is just going to be a great day

to be downtown. There's something going

on at all hours of the day. Um, so we

look forward to seeing the sea of green

downtown. Um, it's great to get everyone

together.

Sound will be provided by Ross

Productions, and

um the most exciting part of the parade,

of course, is the street closures.

Everybody wants to know when they can

get downtown and park.

So, um of note, street closures will be

from about 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on

March 21st. Uh it's early due to the

Lucky Charm occurring just before the

race.

Uh the Market Street Bridge will close

at 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. So, um

anybody trying to enter for um runners

or race

parade participants will have to enter

um via the West Shore rather than

Harrisburg, since um streets will be

closed.

Um parking will be available at the

Market Square Garage at the corner of

Second and Chestnut with a special event

parking fee of $10.

Um all other information is available at

our website,

harrisburgstpatricksdayparade.com.

And we look forward to seeing everyone

downtown on Saturday.

>> Thank you very much.

>> Okay, any any questions for us?

>> I don't think so, but I will ask council

members, do you have any questions

regarding the upcoming Saint Patrick's

Day Parade?

>> Yes, President Hill, I have one

question.

>> Okay.

>> Will there be activities in Strawberry

Square as well this year?

>> Um

I don't believe so.

>> Thank you.

>> Are there any other questions?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, thank you

very much for joining us.

>> Thank you. We appreciate it.

>> We will move forward with our meeting

agenda. Next, we have courtesy of the

floor, just a few housekeeping notes

before we begin. If you're interested in

offering public comment, 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 4 minutes

to share your comments. Mr. Truesdale

has added a timer to the screen for your

reference. I will begin to my right. Is

there anyone that would like to offer

public comment?

Is there anyone to my right that would

like to offer public comment?

Okay. Seeing and hearing no one.

Anyone in the middle section?

Is there somebody Is there anyone to my

right? We'll go back.

That would like to offer public comment.

If so, please kindly come to the

microphone and 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. Thank you.

>> First of all, I've been here before. My

name is Pete White. I've made myself

visible before.

I'm here today, basically, because I'm

totally disenfranchised with some of the

conduct of certain

council members.

We have a scenario here where we're

trying to organize and set up a

collection a collective activity for

leveling the economic playing field,

which I mentioned to you before the city

council was told to be missed.

Yet, I'm hearing in the streets from

other individuals, being a contractor,

that they've been discouraged by

a council person that was going on here

is irrelevant.

I find that heinous. I find that less to

conducive

of the encouragement and the transitions

of Harrisburg.

We have a female council member who's

officially made the news

for some very frivolous,

vindictive-sounding

clandestine arrangements of legality.

I think that's an embarrassment for

basically what your function should be

here.

Description of the job

indicates that there's an abject failure

of recognition of what City Council is

about.

You have to be aware of the fact that

you are supposed to be a vanguard for

this city, not a disruptor, not an

underminer,

but rather with all the issues we have

out here to address,

is more than enough time for real mental

capabilities to get into it. It makes me

question the competency of some of the

members here of the City Council to even

be on this job. Because as far as I'm

concerned, as far as the job description

goes, you've abjectly

made some failures.

I'm going to leave you with that thought

because

signature of a thousand people got you

on the ballot.

Another thousand

can remediate that.

Have a nice night.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment? I don't want to miss anyone.

>> Hello everyone. Martin Gross with the

Art I Do Painting Company.

What I'd like to know,

by show of hands, who fear success?

I'm glad the council do not put their

hand up. You know why?

Because to achieve in Harrisburg,

you got to let the skin color represent

itself.

Right? Nobody's begging.

Nobody's pleading.

Years ago, they put something on our

backs

called us slaves.

So, can we render this?

An ability to let someone take control

without your arguing about it. Don't

argue.

Let the failure be in the hand of the

person who's willing to do it.

So, we look at

>> our mayor

>> We look at

Dana.

She wants to achieve something for y'all

to make y'all

Some people say, "Wow, Harrisburg.

They have achieved something

that a lot of Washington, D.C. is where

I'm from.

I have seen a lot of cruelty. I'm 71

years old.

A bullet in the head of every man that

spoke proud.

The dragging of a person in the street

because they only wanted to do

make a dollar to feed their family.

So, I'm asking y'all,

could you achieve something for us?

Cuz it's going to make y'all look good.

If you use one person

that should let you achieve something.

That's your mayor, Dana, and her

entourage of men

or contractors or women, too.

They want to achieve something.

But it's going to make y'all look good.

They're going to say, "Wow, that That's

not normal."

For the judge majority of people on the

council,

you are colored.

Very pretty skinned.

How about achieving something

that's not normal.

All the people around they got many

complaints.

They going to talk about what toilet to

flush

and what bacteria is to come out of them

bodies.

Don't make it a criminal. Don't make it

a charge.

Try yourself

to make one person achieve something

for y'all. It's going to make y'all look

good. Once it comes out, guess what?

They going to say y'all have done

something that have achieved.

I'm quite sure you have many paperworks

in front of you.

You know what's going on in Harrisburg.

The murders, the thievery, the lack of

ability to achieve.

They need y'all

to help them.

Period.

Thank you for hearing me.

>> Excuse me, Mr. Gross. I don't know if

you stated your address. I know you

stated your business.

>> Well, I'm from Washington, D.C.

>> Yes, I got that.

>> Okay. But, if I state my address, then I

almost feel like a slave. You know why?

>> Well, we need something to add to the

meeting record. So, you either need to

share your address or the vicinity in

which you live, one or the other.

>> Okay.

>> I live on the hill above the Reservoir

Park.

>> All right.

>> 2004 North Street.

>> Okay.

>> I'd love for y'all to come and have some

curry chicken and fried fish with me.

>> Oh, no, thank you, but thank you for

your address.

>> said no, thank you, but not everybody

else.

>> Okay.

>> No, thank you.

>> Is there anyone else? Is there anyone

else to my right that would like to

offer a public comment?

>> Good evening.

My name is Trish Robinson and I don't

live in the city, but I have a business

in the city. So, uh I want to bring some

positivity here. So, I want to thank

first of all thank city council for your

supporting evolve youth trades Academy.

Um the second thing I want to ask is

that

our students right now are working at

the old Polyclinic Hospital. They're

doing some renovation along with ECI and

another small contractor. What they have

asked me is for and city council any

city council member as well as the

Harrisburg school district as well as

some of the other schools Steelton

Highspire and Commonwealth Commonwealth

Charter Academy to be a part of a

to come out to see what the students are

doing and possibly take a picture with

them. So, I just wanted to make that

public. So, if anyone is interested,

please reach out to me and let me know

if you're interested in doing that.

That's it. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

right that would like to offer public

comment?

Anyone else to my right?

Okay, seeing hearing no one anyone in

the middle section, please.

>> Good evening city council. My name is

Wendy Shaver. I'm the co-director of

Power to the Hill. We're located at 124

South 13th Street in the heart of

Allison Hill.

We are a voter engagement group working

to improve voter turnout in the Allison

Hill area as well as facilitate

community action projects to connect the

importance of voting with positive

community action.

We are currently as I have shared here

before working on a community action

project that the neighborhood voted on

to increase

youth programming in the neighborhood.

Since the last meeting where I had

spoken and said we wanted to meet with

the director of Parks and Rec, Mr. Kevin

Sanders, and my co-director and I, Ms.

Lita Beam, had that meeting and he had

all of the staff of the Parks and Rec

there, so thank you for that. And

Councilman Rodriguez came to our kickoff

meeting and shared the great work that

he is doing with youth programming and

gave us some inspiration, so thank you

for that. We learned about the summer

playground programs that are happening

at two parks in the Hill at Vernon

Street Park and Reservoir Park, which

are both wonderful programs, and the

people at Parks and Rec are doing a good

good program there.

This is Emily DeFebo, another volunteer

of Power to the Hill, and she was a part

of the discussion group, specifically

talking to community members about their

wants and needs for youth programming in

the Hill, so I want her to share a

little bit more about what the people of

the Hill would like to see to make their

lives better for their children beyond

the summer

programs at the parks.

>> Thank you, Wendy. Again, I'm Emily

DeFebo. I actually live in Hershey, uh

but I do volunteer with Power to the

Hill, so I'm down in Allison Hill pretty

frequently.

Um with our volunteer group, we

literally knock on doors up and down the

streets in Allison Hill, and I've gotten

to know the beautiful children of the

Allison Hill neighborhood. Just the

sweetest group of kids you could ever

want to meet. Um getting to know them,

getting to know their parents, uh we

have discovered that the parents are in

a position that doesn't surprise anyone

with their employment. They are they

have to choose between

transporting themselves to work or being

home with their children. And this isn't

a situation that anyone wants to be in.

So, we know that at Scott School, there

is currently not a good solid

after-school care program for the

parents of the children in the

neighborhood that attend that school.

So, we would like to do everything in

our power with your collaboration to

provide a safe educational

place for these children to be while

their parents are at work. I recognize

almost every face up here. You guys have

come down, rolled up your sleeves,

knocked on doors, chatted with neighbors

a light along with us. So, I know that

you've spoken to the same mothers,

fathers, children, and child care

workers that I had the opportunity to

speak with and I know that all of your

hearts agree with this mission. So, we

just wanted to keep our name and our

faces in front of you so that once we

have things more finalized, everyone

knows everyone and we can um make this

program for the adorable kids that we

have in Allison Hill.

Thank you.

>> Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the middle

section that would like to offer public

comment?

>> Hello, everybody.

My name is Arthur Jefferson. I own South

Central PA Restoration and I'm the

founder of Big Us Work Based Training, a

nonprofit organization.

Uh I live at 1952 Manada Street,

Harrisburg,

17104.

And my purpose of being up here is to

speak on the positions of Dina and Ms.

Gloria Martin Roberts. I want to say

that um even though they serve two

different positions,

I kind of feel like they're the same

with bringing

uh

us contractors

from Harrisburg

up, helping us get better positions. I

know Ms. Gloria Martin Roberts, she

stood on the line for me a couple times

when I

was trying to join a program and working

within the program and messed up a few

times and she brought it to my attention

as well as help me get better. So, I

want to say that not only do they um

help me, but they help us as a unit

because there's not too many people that

can represent the city of Harrisburg,

the contractors within the city of

Harrisburg, and try to put us in

positions to where we can get better

employment um to feed our families. So,

I just wanted to put that out there, and

I thank you guys for your time.

>> Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the middle

section that would like to offer public

comment?

>> How you doing, city council? My name is

Robert Welden. Y'all know me, 1210

Market Street.

Um

it is very difficult because now they

are trying to come in and wrap it. Now,

wrapping is only temporary. Now, I'm

going to say this once again. When they

go and wrap it, all they're going to do

is just wrap it and leave it.

So, HPMG, Harrisburg Property Management

Group, is not going to do anything of

remediation.

So, now

what they're going to incur is basically

black mold

an incubator.

That is going to have the whole entire

building

get condemned.

Now, I'm going to say this to your legal

guy.

I read the same law books you do.

Okay? I read it a fifth-year college

level. I read that at sixth grade.

So, don't sit there and ever tell me

that what I have cannot be filed in

under criminal.

I am trying to pursue manslaughter

charges for me and my fiance

who died in 2013 because

of City Limits Realty.

I know the difference between civil and

criminal, and what I am pursuing is

criminal. Don't ever sit there and tell

me like you did on Thursday what you

told me. That's a lie.

Thank you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section that would like to offer

public comment?

>> Can I add something?

And one more thing, you told me this.

It is not the choice of a codes officer

to make that choice of him whether or

not to report asbestos or not. He is

bound by federal code to report

asbestos. You told me it was his choice.

>> Thank you.

Anyone else?

>> Good evening, city council. Kia Fowler,

North 5th Street.

Um and I read for resolution

set

19, sorry, resolution 19 um appointing

Ms. Katherine O'Flaherty to serve on the

Harrisburg Architectural Review Board of

the City of Harrisburg. My understanding

is that individuals nominated to this

board of the four non-real estate,

non-architects, they must have both a

knowledge of historical preservation and

interest in historical preservation and

must live within a historical purview of

the city or historical overview

neighborhood.

That Oh, pardon me, that specific

neighborhood. Um after um reviewing Ms.

Flaherty's resume, I see only a

financial background, no background in

um history or architecture, art history.

Um I fully believe that she's very

passionate about the preserving the

character of the neighborhood, but I

would just like to know how her

qualifications fit within knowledge of

historical preservation.

Um second, um for those I'm sure a lot

of us are aware of the civil litigation

that was filed on Friday. Um

I don't like to really discuss this

right now because the law will be what

the law will be. That being said, the

way it's being portrayed in the news, I

am disappointed in the mayor in Mayor

Williams for some of the comments that

she's made. Um whether it was intended

or not, whether she or her office

drafted the statement to say that she

believed that keeping the interim head

of department was a grandfather policy,

at least to me portrays kind of

backhanded um a backhanded move. I'm not

saying it was intentional, but I'm just

saying that that's how it was come

across to me a resident living here.

Um

not a whole lot of contentious things

going on tonight, so thank you for your

time.

>> Thank you.

Is there anyone else in the middle

section that would like to offer public

comment?

>> Good evening, Steven Gristle. I live on

Boas Street. I have been

born in the Harrisburg Hospital, raised

in the city, living here for decades.

And it's concerning a resolution

that you had passed two Tuesdays ago,

unanimously.

And that is that the

city

uh will not

work, that is along with the

Immigration and Customs Enforcement

officers

concerning illegal immigrants.

First of all, let me say this.

And being an inner-city minister for a

number of years,

and over to Holmes, a young black man

was shot.

I stopped my car and pulled to the side

of the road.

He was shot three times in the back.

As a minister, I knew enough to pray for

him. I told him to call on Jesus, cuz I

knew he didn't have long to live.

And sadly, he did not live.

So, I have ministered to people. They

call me they called me the white man

with the brown heart.

Hall Manor, over to Holmes,

I went to places that most people would

not go.

Latinos,

all of them, ministering to them.

The city of Harrisburg, it has had a lot

of crime over the years, as we know.

Thankfully, it's going down.

But,

there was between 10 to 15 million

illegal, unvetted immigrants that came

across our borders.

Are you aware that 1 and 1/2 million of

them

are being absolutely officially

documented to be deported by judges.

They're roaming all throughout America.

If you think for a moment there's no

criminals in this city that crossed the

border, you're fooling nobody but

yourself.

You want to keep the city safe?

Then you need to work with them to get

these We're talking people that are

rapist,

pedophiles,

human trafficking.

And I

I could go on.

I could go on and on and on.

But if you truly want to keep And not to

mention the burden that it puts on city

taxpayers. How would you feel

if you got a bill in the mail

and you found out that you're paying

your neighbor's

electrical bill? You say, "There's a

mistake here."

Well, that's what we're doing. We're

paying somebody else's bill on our

backs.

I had a bill Excuse me, I got the floor.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So, I got I got the floor. Thank you.

So, the point is there is a burden put

on the legal citizens.

I've been paying taxes over 50 years.

And so, but there's a lot that do not.

Thank you. Stop interrupting. Excuse me,

please refrain and allow him to conclude

his comments. He has less than a minute

to go. I know and I may take back some

time from being interrupted. Thank you.

>> So, the point of it is is that there are

We We've seen it. We've had five four

Amish men slaughtered on a highway in

Pennsylvania by an illegal

immigrant. The guy that should have

never had a license.

How many more

people

have to die

here in Pennsylvania, in this city of

Harrisburg till we wake up

and work with those that want to get rid

of the criminals. You know what?

Everybody, it's interesting that nobody

wants to really get involved with that

until you find out, "Oh,

my son,

my daughter was molested by an illegal

immigrant." Then all of a sudden you get

involved. Why is it that it would be

only your own family and not others?

And that's been proven.

That's been proven.

>> Thank you for your comments. Your time

is up.

>> Thank you.

>> Is there anyone else in the middle

section who would like to offer public

comment?

>> Good evening. My name is Melanie Cook. I

live in the 3000 block of North 3rd

Street in the city of Harrisburg. First,

I would like to acknowledge the law

enforcement officers that are here in

the room. Both President and the Vice

President of City Council know I reached

out earlier this week to request some

type of security for city council

meetings. And given what has occurred in

the city of New York and in other

places, I think it is imperative that we

have protection at all times at these

events. So, I do want to acknowledge and

thank those who have uh arranged for the

Harrisburg police officers to be

present. Also, I want to note for the

record that no one's heart is black,

white, green, brown, or purple. Our

hearts are all the same. It is how we

approach humans that we come in contact

with. And if you were raped, murdered by

someone who was born in the United

States, you were no less victimized or

dead. The city of Harrisburg, you have

led by

example and with true leadership. You

have been elected to put forward the

wishes of those people who reside in the

city of Harrisburg. We are a population

of black and brown people, some of whom

are here in an undocumented status. But

those of us who live and work and have

friendships with people of all different

backgrounds know how hard people work to

be here, to get here, and to stay here.

As I have said before, in 1980 when I

was in college, I served on a

on a congressional committee in

Washington, D.C. for immigration and

refugee policy. This country has not

moved forward 2 in

to make it easier for people to legally

come into this country and we should be

doing that and we begin locally to see

that that takes place. I also want to

note for the record that there are 1,372

properties that are fully tax exempt in

the city of Harrisburg. That is a total

of 1 billion 557

million 552,730

total exempt excess value dollars. When

people talk about the city of

Harrisburg, our government and our

school district being unable to meet our

needs, 1 billion 557

million dollars worth of property is

totally tax exempt.

Let that figure sink in.

So those who want to say, and it is

true, it is an absolute crime that only

12% of the students theoretically tested

in the city of Harrisburg are proficient

in reading, 3% proficient in science,

and 2% proficient in math, but yet we

are still graduating 62% of the

students. So please make that math make

sense.

We have to work as a city,

as a city government and as a school

district.

Apparently,

both the city and the school district

will not be let out of

government federal or I'm sorry, state

oversight until both are on some even

keel. We need to say to our governor,

you walk the streets on behalf of

businesses in a corridor in downtown.

How many of our schools have you entered

into? When Bernie Sanders was here, he

made a point of stopping and speaking

with a group of Harrisburg City School

students. How many have been invited to

the governor's office to talk to him?

It is not enough for people to criticize

this city when state government

frequently is standing on our throats

and preventing us from moving forward.

So, I say to you who are lobbying to do

the right thing, 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?

>> Good evening, city council. My name is

Tameka Moore. I live in Allison Hill

area of Harrisburg.

I come again before you to express

um

the situation that happened to me

several um years ago in reference to

Gloria Martin Roberts um grabbing me,

physically assaulting me while on the

job. I worked under her um for a little

bit of time. It was about 3 months. Um

she caused a very hostile work

environment. We really didn't get too

much work done. A lot of talking, a lot

of eating, a lot of going out on city

time and shopping and doing things. So,

I wore my shirt on purpose. No. City

Council, I beg you. Do not vote her back

into that position. Thank you.

>> Thank you.

Is there anyone else to my left that

would like to offer public comment?

>> Good evening, um, council members.

Robert Williams.

1630 North 5th Street, Harrisburg, PA.

I don't know if these people that spoke

in the mayor's favor is on her payroll

or not, but they're

not educated. The mayor has been in

office for over 4 years, got $47 million

in ARPA funds, $13 million for the

playground that hasn't been done, had

numerous extensions for this playground.

This thing the last extension is up this

March. This was extension since the

2023.

She had this $47 million the whole time

she's been in office.

$8 million affordable housing fund

didn't come about until August of 2025.

She had that money when she stepped foot

in office. I met with City Council in

2023. I made my own affordable housing

plan, my own economic development plan,

a civilianization plan for the

30-something officers that were short,

but we have officers here today even

though we're short of officers. I've

done a lot for free.

For free.

And this $8 million affordable housing

plan that it took 4 years to come up

with,

is not unlawful.

Her own NOFO, which is notice of

opportunity of funding, notice

notice of funding opportunity, is

unlawful. She said she would have three

people on the committee. It was only

two, so it's unlawful. How can three

people score something independently

when one person is a tie to the ICA,

Duck Hill. It's not independent. It's

unlawful and unethical. And the mayor

has a problem with following the laws.

Didn't follow the citizens complaint

ordinance, which many people I've

brought in here that that ordinance has

been violated. Didn't follow the title

two ordinance with Gloria Martin

Roberts. 120 days. No, you try to skate

around the law. She wants her in there

for a reason. She didn't bring you in

She didn't bring her in front of you for

a reason. For a reason. She didn't want

Cleac for a reason. The reason is she

doesn't want people in office that's

going to be accountable. When someone

holds her accountable, they get fired.

Nate Spriggs, fired. Jonathan, fired.

Anyone that holds her accountable,

they're fired.

Four years she was in office, no major

problems have been solved. Governor's

Square, still an issue. Broad Street

Market, still an issue. Every major

thing that has been an issue was still

an issue. Nothing has been solved. The

problem I have with you guys is that you

have been bending over to accommodate

her too much. She brought the She

brought in front of you the market the

Broad Street Market financing. You

should have voted against it. It was too

soon, too rushed, and it was too much

money. 48% of the reserve left went to

this and you rushed it in for a

resolution and money was reallocated

over a million dollars.

That was reallocated through a

resolution and the law said it has to be

done in an ordinance. This

This solicitor, I agree, does not know

the law. He's told me plenty of times

things that's not lawful.

Plenty things.

So, we'll be in court. Like I told

myself, I wasn't going to come in here

no more. I'll see y'all in court.

Because these already He has no problem

wasting court wasting the taxpayers'

money going to court for things that you

know that you can't win. Already wasted

our money for this first thing. That's

why we're here right now because these

things should have been solved with a

ordinance or with Grover saying file a

quo warranto with the AG or the district

attorney's office. We wouldn't have had

to spend money for this. That would have

been county that would have solved this.

We're here after spending money. We're

still here the same place for the same

woman has been in office for almost 2

years past the time she has allowed

under the law. Please do not allow this

administration to keep breaking a dag on

law. Thanks for allowing me to share.

>> Is there anyone else to my left that

would like to offer public comment?

>> Good evening, Council. Carrie Fowler. I

live in Midtown.

I'm here tonight to urge you to vote no

on the appointment of Gloria

Martin-Roberts as director of building

and housing development.

This department oversees housing

programs, federal HUD compliance,

development projects, and millions of

dollars in public funding meant to

support Harrisburg residents and

strengthen our neighborhoods.

This role requires deep knowledge of

housing policy,

federal programs, and economic

development strategy.

Ms. Martin-Roberts' professional

background is primarily in healthcare

administration,

not housing policy, HUD programs, or

municipal economic development. These

are specialized areas that require

experience and expertise to manage

effectively.

Even more troubling is the fact that

approximately 5 million in COVID

recovery funding has remained remained

tied up in the department for nearly 2

years.

These funds were meant to help residents

recover from the pandemic, support

housing initiatives, initiatives, and

stabilize neighborhoods. Instead, they

have remained stalled while community

organizations and residents wait for

resources that should already be working

in our neighborhoods.

The explanation we continue to hear from

this office is that these problems were

inherited.

At that point at this point that excuse

has run its course.

Leadership is not about explaining

problems, it's solving them.

There have been also widely reported

concerns, which we also heard tonight

from an individual who work within the

department that Ms. Martin-Roberts

spends more time tending to personal

matters than carrying out the

responsibilities of the office.

When these kinds of concerns are

consistently raised by agencies and

partners working with the city, they

should not be ignored.

And I would like to ask the council this

a direct question.

What are the qualifications that make

her the right person for this job?

What measurable results or

accomplishments can you point to that

demonstrate that she is prepared to lead

the department?

If there are facts that justify this

appointment, the public, the city of

Harrisburg, the residents, the taxpayers

deserve to hear them.

Let's also call this what it appears to

many residents, a political favor from

the mayor rather than a merit-based

appointment.

That perception alone undermines public

confidence in city government.

Harrisburg is facing serious housing and

development challenges. The city needs a

leader who understands HUD programs,

knows how to move funding efficiently,

and has the experience to deliver

results for the residents.

For the first time in a long time, this

council is legislating effectively and

showing real independence in its

decision-making.

Let's keep it that way.

Harrisburg residents are watching and

counting on you to continue making

decisions based on what is best for us,

the city, the taxpayers, the residents,

the voters, not political convenience.

For the sake of accountability and the

residents who depend on these programs,

I strongly urge you to vote no on this

appointment and reopen the search for a

qualified candidate. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

left that would like to offer public

comment?

Okay, seeing and hearing Oh, okay. Go

ahead.

>> Hello everyone. My name is Joel Castro.

I'm by Market Street and 18th.

So,

um there's a lot of violence near where

I live.

Um

Yeah, like

a few months ago there was some guy with

like a submachine gun like shooting

outside of my window. I thought he was

shooting at the house, I couldn't tell.

But um they were shooting at each other.

Um

So,

yeah, there's um there's an issue with

dialogue. I think people don't know how

to de-escalate, people don't know how to

communicate, and as a result, that

spills over to the people, you know, who

are in the surrounding areas.

Um so basically, I'm a software

developer. Um

I want to offer what I created. It's a

website. Um if any of you are interested

in taking a look, it's onewmind.life.

It gets uh any group of people to

anonymously come to consensus.

So, yeah, please check that out. And

basically, one mind.life, o n e m i n

d.life.

So, basically, just

um

yeah, take a look at that and I don't

know.

If you're interested, let me know. Thank

you.

>> Thank you.

I'll ask again, is there anyone to my

left that would like to offer public

comment?

No one?

Is there anyone else in general

throughout the room that would like to

offer public comment?

>> Hello, city of Harrisburg. My name is

Malika.

Um I'm not giving my address. I live

downtown. I stay down here in this area.

And

my concern

is

all the corruption

here,

state,

federal,

Supreme Court,

FICO fraud,

human trafficking,

tunnels in the schools.

They are funded

by bonds and securities.

And

our children

uh

460,000

of our children in the United States of

America are missing

and have been exploited

from this land

international

and global.

I'm asking the city of Harrisburg to

help me promote uh human rights so it

can actually

be put to a stop with me.

Uh

and to deal with

the children and their safety in the

schools because there's tunnels

in every school in all 52 states.

And

it's supposed to stop with those who are

in power. So, I want to address

calling on the city of Harrisburg for

our children.

Uh and what is being done and do you

guys know about the

uh trafficking tunnels in our schools in

this state and every other state and why

is it human rights

uh being taught?

Um and why is the safety of our children

not being addressed? Um is it being

covered up?

Um there was a young lady that came

here. And she was raped in the school.

Nothing was done. The child was not

removed.

Um and they cried out to me because they

felt like

no one is like really fighting for them.

She yelled at the principal.

And

the school was shut down because these

children felt like

why is those who are in power not

addressing these things?

Me as a parent, me living on this planet

for 42 years knowing what I've lived and

seen and know our history, I'm not going

to get into that.

I'm standing up for the children and

calling on the city of Harrisburg

city, state, and federal

um on teaching human rights

and um dealing with officers cuz I'm

going to be coming here. I spoke to the

uh chief of police.

Um from here, I talked to the principals

at the schools on our children and want

to know why is people in power not

addressing these issues. And why is our

children

crying out to me at Casa feeling like

nobody is doing anything.

Um there's Epstein files

and them children are concerned um about

their future.

I'm stepping in because it's going to

stop with me and I don't want to go any

further, but I'm asking can I connect

with anybody in here? Can you go to

humanrights.com and can we get this talk

started here working state federal to

stop human trafficking and deal with the

safety of our children?

I'm not pointing fingers. I'm talking

about our children.

Um can I get with

can anybody go to humanrights.com

and can I

and this little girl start this here um

because you guys are in power. I'm not

pointing fingers because I don't know

what's going on. I'm just talking about

can we can I start here with you guys

that we can teach human rights and I'm

going to be also talking to the chief of

police about it because he uh said that

I can call him and just go from there

because I want to be a hero to the

children.

>> Do you mind waiting until after our

meeting to speak with our public safety

committee chair Councilwoman Green?

>> Okay. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Thank you guys.

>> Is there anyone else that would like to

offer public comment? I don't want to

miss anyone.

>> Yes.

My name is Kelly Summerford. I'm 1937

Market Street have no problem not

letting anybody know where I live and I

didn't come here today to say anything

to council. In fact, I haven't been here

since I sat up there.

And it's very important to me to express

something today because I heard a very

good friend of mine's character being

attacked. Now I don't think any of you

or

the administration

thinks any of that is positive.

Now, I've worked with Gloria Martin

Roberts, and she sat up there as well.

So, anything that that one individual

said,

"Hire somebody who knows how to do that

work." She sat up there, and if she's if

she wasn't qualified, then I am really

questioning this whole thing.

I seriously have a problem with

attacking people's character. I don't

come down here. I don't give any press

conferences, and I I could,

but I don't because I believe you guys

can handle your own business.

But that attacking

people

is not right.

All of the individuals in here

have a past.

Understand.

No one is perfect.

It is it is Well, I mean, bring it. I

don't care. That is not why I'm here. I

am here to give something positive. But

when I hear my friend being attacked,

her character?

Her character?

Her character?

>> Okay, you have 2 minutes and 10 seconds.

>> but again, you know, people are talking

from the audience. That means nothing to

me.

I know her to have good character. I

know her to do her job very well.

And all you have to do is research. And

you are right. She has a lot of

background in health, but she also had a

lot of background doing this.

It is important that we we treat people

respectful.

Treat people respectfully.

If you have something that's serious,

bring it out.

But, when you're attacking people's

character, that is not clear. And trust

me,

we will not

history will not be kind to none of

this.

I am a historian,

and I understand history. There are only

50 cities like this.

Okay?

48 on the mainland.

Let's not be the one

who tears down people just because you

don't like them.

Let's not be the one who says

people's character is bad cuz you don't

like them.

You all have a job.

Please do it, and I had that job. So,

it's I'm I'm not talking about something

I don't know about.

Please, just be respectful. Don't tear

anyone down.

>> Thank you.

Is there anyone else that would like to

offer public comment before we move on

with our meeting agenda?

Excuse me, you've already had an

opportunity to offer comments.

No, there were two other people that

were coming up that already

>> Good evening, honorable council. My name

is Ronald Chapel. I live on Brookwood

Street on the hill in Harrisburg.

And all I what want to do was ask a

question. Now, there's been many things

said, many accusations made against Ms.

Gloria Martin Roberts.

And before a subsequent vote is taken,

I'm just wondering, will she have the

opportunity to respond if she chooses

to?

>> There will be an opportunity

for her to respond to any questions that

council members have regarding her

appointment under resolution

17 of 2026.

>> speaking primarily of the accusations

made against her.

>> We will not be entertaining the

accusations. As I mentioned, we will, if

council members have questions related

to resolution 17 of 2026,

there will be an opportunity for Ms.

Martin Roberts to answer those

questions.

>> Thank you, ma'am.

>> Thank you.

>> Now what?

>> Do you have comments? Okay.

>> And

what?

>> I was waiting for the other gentleman

who would like to offer public comment

to come to the microphone, if you're

talking to me.

>> I am.

>> Please proceed with your comments.

>> Um my name is Lewis Butts. I'm start I

started a lobbying company in

Harrisburg. And

we really needed

to turn around and move away from a lot

of this

negative stuff because we're wasting a

lot of time.

We got to think it we're in our 250th

anniversary

of America. And

I don't see us preparing to

gather some economic development from

the time.

I mean, let's do something while we have

the time.

Else the time will it will pass us by.

Um I have a project for the State Street

Bridge

to where we can um

hang all of our

flags that we've earned

from Camp Curtin. We could tell the

story. And we won't lose the time.

It would give us some identity. It's our

history.

It would give us some some solid

identity

that we can teach our children so they

can learn about what we did for America.

This is a time that we can do this.

So, let's

keep some things in a pocket

in our pocket and keep it

isolated if it's negative and work on

something

that is timely. We got to clean up We

should clean up that State Street Bridge

along with the um

the Terrace. It looks horrible

along with the bridge. We have to

respect something so we can get some

economic benefit. Gettysburg has an

economic benefit from having their

history um presented. Let's just do

something that's smarter.

And it's about ourselves, focusing on

ourselves. We can really do some

reenactments, put everybody to work.

Let's keep the negative somewhere else.

Glory I don't mind Look, this is our

This is our This is our body.

Everybody's one body.

People make fun of me.

You feel me?

We got to take our hits.

They say I'm so grandiose with whatever,

but I'm really not.

Let's use what Let's use what we have.

The school board We can't even go to the

same school board meeting.

We have a very important school board

meeting right now that half of us should

be at.

But we can't be there. They're

separating us I They're isolating us.

They're Everybody that should be over

there is here.

We got to work this out and you know we

do.

So, let's

say, "Come on, we got to stagger one of

these meetings."

So, we can cuz our kids are important.

If our kids are important

and we're here, they need us there, too.

Okay? So, we just We got to think

There's got to be some easy solutions.

It's not hard. Stagger a meeting so this

body can be there so they're not

knocking down something that we already

have.

We're spending $5 million

to

to knock down something that we have.

So, we can have it zero again.

This is exhausting.

You feel what I'm saying? Let's let's

just stop it. It's got to stop

something. It's got to just got to stop.

Okay?

That's all I'm saying. It ain't about

me, either.

It's about getting our

some respect going on. And we got a

memorial bridge that's historical.

Let's

put Harrisburg at full address. Let's

work with Governor Shapiro and say we

have something that we can say is ours.

And I and I got seconds.

And I got seconds.

All right, y'all. Y'all be good. Just be

good.

>> Thank you.

We are going to move forward with our

meeting agenda. Next, we have the

approval of the minutes for the

legislative session that occurred on

February 24th, 2026.

Council members, are there any revisions

to those meeting minutes?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, the

minutes stand approved. Next, we will

begin reports of committees.

I will deliver the first report on

behalf of the administration committee

on the work session that occurred on

March 3rd, 2026.

On Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, the

administration committee met to discuss

two bills and four resolutions.

Bill two of 2026,

an ordinance forgiving and discharging

2024

and 2025 city real estate taxes,

including interest, penalties, and

costs, and striking off tax liens for

certain historically tax-exempt

properties.

Bill 3 of 2026,

an ordinance amending chapter 2-301

of part 3 of the administrative code

regarding department heads appointment

and duties and acting heads to update

and clarify provisions regarding such

appointments. Resolution 12 of 2026,

a resolution authorizing the city of

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

lease agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

maintaining an existing billboard on a

portion of city property located along

South Cameron Street north of the

intersection of Magnolia Street.

Resolution 13 of 2026,

a resolution authorizing the city of

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

lease agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

maintaining an existing billboard on a

portion of city property located along

South Cameron Street south of the

intersection of Magnolia Street.

Resolution 14 of 2026,

a resolution authorizing the city of

Harrisburg to negotiate and enter into a

lease agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

maintaining an existing billboard on a

portion of city property located along

South Cameron Street near the

intersection of Elliott Street.

Resolution 15 of 2026, a resolution

ratifying and approving the 2026

through 2028

basic labor agreement between the city

of Harrisburg and local 521 American

Federation of State, County, and

Municipal employees' Council 13.

Bill two of 2026 was discussed first.

This is the fourth bill in the series of

tax exemption bills that we've been

taking action on. The bill addresses tax

exemption for churches. The two churches

who are seeking an exemption are Mount

Olive Baptist Church and formerly Agape

Ministries.

Council members asked the following

question. There was a tax year

clarification question. Um so it's for

2024 through 2025.

Um another question, how does this play

out moving forward?

Another question was a have all of the

churches responded? Um solicitor Neil

Grover noted that all churches that are

still functioning have responded. I

encourage my colleagues to support bill

two of 2026

to ensure that our churches receive

their appropriate tax exemption.

Bill three of 2026 was discussed second.

Solicitor Neil Grover discussed acting

department heads uh occurring on a

case-by-case basis. Council members had

no questions. I encourage my colleagues

to support bill three of 2026

to end the practice of interim directors

in this administration and all future

administrations.

Resolution 12 of 2026,

resolution 13 of 2026,

resolution 14 of 2026 and

were discussed, excuse me.

They discussed various lease agreements

with Lamar Advantage GP Company LLC for

the purpose of constructing and

maintaining billboards on a portion of

city property um, fronting Paxton

Street,

oh, located that's resolution 10, sorry.

Um, the intersections of Magnolia south

of Cameron Street, um, north of the sec

intersections of Magnolia Street and

Cameron Street near the intersection of

Elliott Street. Antonia Magna, special

assistant in the business

administrator's office was present to

answer questions. Um, he noted that some

of the signs are already built and that

a new agreement, uh, 15 years in length,

um, is the is the term.

I encourage my colleagues to support

resolution 12 of 2026, resolution 13 of

2026,

and resolution 14 of 2026 as these

billboards, uh, will provide

advertisement opportunities for the city

of Harrisburg and other local

Harrisburg-based businesses.

Resolution 15 of 2026,

Jack Dean, our label labor council,

participated in the work session via

Zoom. He highlighted the major,

uh, terms of the 2026 through 2028

proposed collective bargaining

agreement, um, including the following.

It is, uh,

the term is for 3 years, 2026 to 2028.

Um, there the holiday of Juneteenth was

added. Uh, it's our understanding that

employees were receiving, um, that

as a holiday off, um, but it is now

included, um, in their scheduling.

Article 15 discusses wages. Section 1 is

4% is retroactive to January 1st, 2026.

There's a $1,000 one-time, uh, bonus.

And then a 3% increase, uh, for the next

2 years.

Article 20 discusses medical and

hospital benefits, specifically section

4 subsection F discusses increased

reimbursement for Medicare supplement by

$10 per year to $370

by 2028.

Council members asked the following

clarifying questions.

Are there similar increases or similar

bonuses to last year's agreement?

Extra holiday bonuses,

as we noted, weren't in the contract.

But in

memorandums of understanding,

rate increases bonuses are less to

provide annual bonuses.

I encourage my colleagues to support

resolution 15 of 2026

as the negotiation has already occurred.

A favorable vote is the final step. This

concludes the report of the

administration committee. The next

committee report you will hear will be

delivered by our public works committee

chair, Councilman Rodriguez, on the work

session of March 3rd, 2026.

>> Thank you, Madam President. Good evening

to all in attendance. On Tuesday, March

3rd of 2026, the Public Works Committee

met to discuss one bill and two

resolutions. Bill 4 of 2026 is an

ordinance amending chapter 9-301

of title 9 of the Harrisburg City Code

regarding the municipal waste,

recycling, and composting to authorize

the identification and designation of

business establishments for the

placement of city designated litter

receptacles, i.e., hotspot cans, outside

public exits consistent with the

findings of Pennsylvania Litter Action

Plan 2021. Joining us to discuss was

Director West from the Harrisburg City

Public Works Department. Director West

expressed the need for a corner store

ordinance and how important it is to

replace the usage of the obsolete stone

cans and replace them with the new black

can orange lid substitutions.

This legislation ties directly into the

city's comprehensive plan and the PA

litter mitigation action plan for

cleaner and safer cities. Questions from

council were minimal, but the ones that

were asked were around the pickup

frequency of these cans and what would

be the penalty for those

non-cooperative.

Also up for discussion was resolution 10

of 2026 and resolution 11 of 2026.

Resolution 10 of 2026 is a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter in a lease agreement

with Lamar Advantage GP Company LLC for

the purpose of constructing and

maintaining a billboard on a portion of

city property fronting Paxton Street

located at 1812 Paxton Street. And

resolution 11 of 2026 was a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter in a lease agreement

with Lamar Advantage GP Company LLC for

the purpose of constructing and

maintaining a billboard on a portion of

city property fronting I-83 located at

1812 Paxton Street. Joining us was a

representative from Lamar Advantage GP

and Antonio Magna from the mayor's

cabinet to discuss the set of

resolutions. Questions from council were

minimal, but everyone was in agreement

that a lease agreement would earn the

city proceeds which would be beneficial

and productive to the economic

development of the city of Harrisburg.

Conversations were very productive and I

highly encourage my colleagues on

council to support this bill and both

resolutions on tonight's legislative

agenda. And that concludes the report

from the Public Works Committee work

session from March 3rd of 2026. Thank

you.

>> Thank you, Councilman Rodriguez. We do

not have any ordinances for first

reading. We will move to ordinances for

amendment. Our first ordinance for

amendment is bill two of 2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Bill two, 2026, an ordinance forgiving

and discharging 2024 and 2025 city real

estate taxes including interest,

penalties, and costs and striking off

tax liens for certain historically tax

exempt properties.

>> Thank you.

Next, bill three of 2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Bill three, 2026, an ordinance amending

chapter two {dash} 301 of part three of

the administrative code regarding

department heads appointment and duties

and acting heads to update and clarify

provisions regarding such appointments.

>> Thank you.

I move that the following language be

added to the end of subsection two

{dash} 301.5,

subsection C.

Except as set forth herein, the mayor is

prohibited from appointing an interim or

other temporary department head and the

controller shall be prohibited from

approving or issuing any compensation

associated with any such appointment.

Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you.

I will sus- entertain a motion to

suspend the rules for discussion.

>> So moved.

>> And there's a second. Okay, thank you.

Uh so, before us we have bill three of

2026.

There is uh an amendment on the floor.

Council members, are there any questions

regarding the amendment?

>> No, I have none.

>> Okay.

Seeing and hearing no questions,

Solicitor Grover or

>> Uh yes, Madam Chair.

>> I just wanted to know if you had any

commentary before resuming our

legislative session.

>> No.

>> Okay.

I will entertain a motion to resume the

legislative session.

>> Motion to resume the session.

>> Thank you. Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you. So, before us uh we have an

amendment. I will read the language

again.

Um

I I move that the following language be

added to the end of subsection 2-301.5

subsection

C. Except as set forth herein, the mayor

is prohibited from appointing an interim

or other temporary department head, and

the controller shall be prohibited from

approving or issuing any compensation

associated with any such appointment.

So, it was moved and second. Uh

council members, are there any

questions, comments, or concerns related

to the amendment on the floor?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, Mr.

Truesdale, could you please call the

vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rose?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> The amendment passes by vote of 7 to 0.

>> Thank you.

Next, we have Bill 4 of 2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Bill 4, 2026, an ordinance amending

chapter 9-301

of title 9 of the city hit city Oh my

gosh. Of the Harrisburg city code

regarding the municipal waste recycling

and composting to authorize and to

authorize the identification and

description of business establishments

for the placement of city designated

litter receptacles, hot spot cans,

outside public exits consistent with the

findings of the Pennsylvania Litter

Action Plan.

>> Thank you.

Council members, are there any

amendments to this bill?

Okay, seeing and hearing none, we'll

move forward with ordinances for final

passage.

The first we have Bill 2 of 2026. Mr.

Truesdale, could you please read it into

the record one last time?

>> Yep.

Bill 2 2026, an ordinance forgiving and

discharging 2024 and 2025 city real

estate taxes including interest,

penalties, and costs and striking off

tax liens for certain historically tax

exempt properties.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to Bill 2 of 2026?

Okay.

>> I would just note that I will be

recusing myself due to my aunt being the

pastor at one of the churches.

>> Thank you.

Any other questions, comments, or

concerns?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rawls?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Bill 2 of 2026 passes by vote of 6 to 0.

>> Thank you. Next we have Bill 3 of 2026

as amended. Mr. Truesdale, could you

please read it into the record?

>> Bill 3 2026, an ordinance amending

chapter 2-301 of part 3 of the

administrative code regarding department

heads, appointment and duties, and

acting heads to update and clarify

provisions regarding such appointments.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to bill three of 2026?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rolls?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Bill three 2026 passes as amended by

vote of seven to zero.

>> Thank you.

Next we have bill four of 2026. Mr.

Truesdale, could you please read it into

the record?

>> Bill four of 2026, an ordinance amending

chapter nine-301

of title nine of the Harrisburg city

code regarding the municipal waste,

recycling, and composting to authorize

the identification and designation of

business establishments for the

placement of city designated litter

receptacles, hot spot cans outside

public exits consistent with the

findings of the Pennsylvania litter

action plan.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to bill four of 2026?

>> I just have one comment.

>> Yes.

>> I just wanted to say thank you again to

Councilman Rodriguez for bringing this

bill forward. I know this is a joint

effort and

um we're doing this together also, but

he brought it forward to have uh make

sure receptacles were placed outside of

corner stores as a way to continue to

keep our city beautiful. So, I just

wanted to uh thank him again for uh bill

four of 2026.

>> Thank you. Are there any other comments?

>> Yes, Madam President. I just wanted to

thank everyone for the draft of the

bill, legal for helping it um come down

to the floor, the collaboration with

Madam Mayor's office, and everyone on

council. Long time coming, all of our

stewards of environmental freedom and

keeping the city of Harrisburg clean.

It's been a long time, so thank you and

your leadership and VP Jones and the

rest of council, and everyone that had a

hand on it. I know at the time when we

drafted it said

wasn't even in his role he is now. So,

it's been some time. So, I'm

appreciative to get this done for the

city and you know, I I I can't wait to

see it enacted. So, thank you everybody.

>> Thank you.

Yes, President Hill. Thank you.

Thank you Councilman Rodriguez for

bringing this forward. I am in favor of

this. I do have a question for Solicitor

Grover in reference to the city

lots, the blanket lots. Is there

anything out there to keep those lots

clean or were there any

>> Are Are you talking about vacant lots,

parks? What are you speaking of?

>> Vacant lots.

Um

>> So, that we have a um

>> Vacant lots that the city owns.

>> We have a lot administrator who

coordinates

the cleaning of those lots, the cutting

of the grass. We outsource the cutting

of the grass and the snow every year by

contract. There's so many of them.

Um and the the lot administrator

position is probably only 4 years old.

It's It There's been a lot of attempts

to trying to find a way to manage those

lots which are are fairly challenging

cuz they're spread out all over the

city.

Um and I think we're at 400 plus at this

point.

>> How can we get in touch with the lot

administrator? Just

>> Mr. West. He works for Mr. West.

>> Okay. Thank you.

Are there any other questions, comments,

or concerns related to Bill 4 of 2026?

Okay, seeing hearing none. Mr.

Truesdale, could you please call the

vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rolls?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Bill 4 of 2026 passes by vote of 7-0.

>> Thank you. We will now move forward with

resolutions. The first resolution for

consideration this evening is resolution

10 of 2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Resolution 10, 2026. A resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a lease

agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

constructing and maintaining a billboard

on a portion of city property fronting

Paxton Street located at 1812 Paxton

Street.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any questions, comments, or concerns

related to resolution 10 of 2026?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rose?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Resolution 10 of 2026 passes by vote of

7-0.

>> Thank you. Next, we have resolution 11

of 2026. Mr. Truesdale, could you please

read it into the record?

>> Resolution 11, 2026. A resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a lease

agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

constructing and maintaining a billboard

on a portion of city property fronting

I-83 located at 1812 Paxton Street.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any questions, comments, or concerns

related to resolution 11 of 2026? Seeing

and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale, could

you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rose?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Resolution 11 of 2026 passes by vote of

7 to 0.

>> Thank you. Next we have Resolution 12 of

2026. Mr. Truesdale, could you please

read it into the record?

>> Resolution 12 2026, a resolution

authorizing the City of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a lease

agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

maintaining an existing billboard on a

portion of city property located along

South Cameron Street north of the

intersection of Magnolia Street.

>> Thank you. Council members, do you have

any questions, comments, or concerns

related to Resolution 12 of 2026?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rolls?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Resolution 12 of 2026 passes by vote of

7 to 0.

>> Thank you. Next we have Resolution 13 of

2026. Mr. Truesdale, could you please

>> Resolution 13 2026, a resolution

authorizing the City of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a lease

agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

maintaining an existing billboard on a

portion of city property located along

South Cameron Street south of the

intersection of Magnolia Street.

>> Thank you. Council members, are there

any questions, comments, or concerns

related to Resolution 13 of 2026?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rolls?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Resolution 13 of 2026 passes by vote of

7 to 0.

>> Thank you. Next we have Resolution 14 of

2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Resolution 14 2026, a resolution

authorizing the city of Harrisburg to

negotiate and enter into a lease

agreement with Lamar Advantage GP

Company LLC for the purpose of

maintaining an existing billboard on a

portion of city property located along

South Cameron Street near the

intersection of Elliot Street.

>> Thank you, council members. Are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 14 of

2026?

Seeing and hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rose?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Resolution 14 of 2026 passes by vote of

7 to 0.

>> Thank you. Next we have resolution 15 of

2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Resolution 15 of 2026. A resolution

ratifying and approving the 2026 through

2028 basic labor agreement between the

city of Harrisburg and Local 521,

American Federation of State, County,

and Municipal Employees Council 13.

>> Thank you, council members. Are there

any final questions, comments, or

concerns related to resolution 15 of

2026?

Seeing hearing none, Mr. Truesdale,

could you please call the vote?

>> Ms. Davis?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Green?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Jones?

>> Yay.

>> Mr. Lawson?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Rose?

>> Yes.

>> Mr. Rodriguez?

>> Yes.

>> Ms. Hill?

>> Yes.

>> Resolution 15 of 2026 passes by vote of

7 to 0.

>> Thank you. Next we have resolution 16 of

2026. Mr. Truesdale, could you please

read it into the record?

>> Resolution 16, 2026. A resolution to

negotiate and enter into a lease

agreement with the Pennsylvania

Department of Transportation in the

amount of $1 for a certain portion of

right-of-way with parking and lighting

improvements located under the South

Bridge of I-83 to be used as parking for

recreation activities on the Capital

Area Greenbelt.

>> Thank you. Resolution 16 of 2026 will

move to the Administration Committee.

Next, we have Resolution 17 of 2026. Mr.

Truesdale, could you please read it into

the record?

>> Resolution 17 2026. A resolution

confirming the appointment appointment

of Gloria Martin Roberts to serve as

director of the Department of Building

and Housing Development for the City of

Harrisburg.

>> Thank you. I will entertain a motion to

suspend the rules for discussion.

>> So moved.

>> Is there a second?

>> Second.

>> Thank you.

I believe Ms. Martin Roberts

Oh, she's outside. Okay.

Well, let's move forward with the other

uh

resolutions and then she'll come.

Yes, let's do that and we'll come back.

Resolution 18 of 2026. Mr. Truesdale,

could you please read it into the

record?

>> Res- Resolution 18 2026. A resolution

approving the second proposed 2026

budget reallocation including an initial

appropriation and allocation in

fulfillment of contractual commitments.

>> Thank you. Resolution 18 of 2026 will

move to the Budget and Finance

Committee. The final resolution for

consideration is Resolution 19 of 2026.

Mr. Truesdale, could you please read it

into the record?

>> Resolution 19 of 2026. A resolution

appointing Ms. Katherine O'Fla- Flaherty

to serve on the Harrisburg Architectural

Review Board of the City of Harrisburg.

>> Thank you. Resolution 19 of 2026 will

move to the administration committee.

We're going to go back to resolution 17

of 2026.

I believe Ms. Martin Roberts is now

present in the room.

>> Thank you.

Good evening. I apologize to you. I was

being interviewed.

>> Okay. Thank you.

Uh

I really don't have any questions. Um

I think as I've noted before,

this was the second piece of legislation

that we've been waiting for um following

the joint stipulation with the court.

So, I don't I don't have any questions

here. I will open the floor to my

colleagues who may have some additional

questions. We'll begin with uh

Councilwoman woman Davis, do you have

any questions?

>> Thank you, President Hill. No, I don't

have any questions for um Ms. Gloria

Martin Roberts. I'm familiar with her

work since I've been here. So, um I

don't have any questions. Thank you.

>> Okay. Thank you. Councilman Rodriguez,

do you have any questions?

>> Thank you, Madam President. Yes, uh good

evening, Ms. Gloria. How are you?

>> I'm fine, thank you.

>> Good to see you. How's everything going?

>> Everything's going fine, thank you.

>> All right. Um

So, how do you plan um on increasing

communications between council and your

department if you receive the

affirmative vote this evening?

>> Well, I believe that it would be helpful

if I've had on my calendar the

availability of council members to meet

with me. Now, some of you already do

that and and you come and meet with me

on a regular basis when you can.

But I think it would be very helpful.

And that's not just for me, but that's

for any department to be on a calendar

so that you have regularly scheduled

meetings. Uh just to

keep you apprised of what's going on in

the various departments.

>> Thank you. Um quarterly reports, is that

something you'd be willing to continue I

mean coming down and actually

giving the presentation yourself in

front of council?

>> Certainly.

>> Okay. Okay. Um

let's just say for some reason you do

get voted down this evening. Are there

any workings with HUD on the federal

level that will be held up or in

contingent due to your absence and kind

of put the city in a hole?

>> Yes. Um we are under timeliness review,

which means over the last 6 years the

city has not drawn down their federal

funds.

And so those funds have to be expended

by August of this year.

Um I have been working over the last 2

weeks. Uh we have a plan. HUD came into

town last month and I met with them. And

I have a plan to make sure that those

dollars are spent down. And what we're

going to do is pay for the soft costs

related to the Broad Street Market.

Those dollars would then go back into

the general fund so that they can be

used for other projects.

>> Okay. And um I had a question for

Antonio. Antonio, would you mind coming

up to the microphone, please?

How you doing, Antonio?

>> I'm doing good. How about

>> If you'd you to state your name for

those in attendance so they know who you

are?

>> Anthony Magna, business administrator's

office.

>> Um so thank you. Um how will your role

be affected or impacted if we lose um

our current director in Ms. Gloria's

position?

>> Absolutely. I've been involved in a a

number of discussions with related to uh

various housing programs that we run at

the city as well as uh the LERTA

process, which is still ongoing as many

of you know. Um

if if Gloria were to not be approved and

we need to step away, that would affect

nearly all of these programs um and

especially the LERTA stuff. So my my

role then would be greatly affected

because I would have to

figure out a way to still continue to

deal with the LERTA applications as they

come in even though I am not the

individual that is supposed to be doing

that. And then we would also have to

find a work around for

how to how the HUD money can be spent or

you know, what the plan would be moving

forward. This would take

This isn't solved in days. This is

solved in weeks or months most likely.

>> So we could potentially pause a lot of

things going for the city.

>> Yes.

>> Oh man. Um then I and I'm I hate to make

it seem like I'm prying. I just I'm

trying to get as much as not very often

that we have both of you in the same

room together. So I'm trying to gather

as much info as I can. Um

and as far as this is my final question,

as far as the ARPA funding, um how has

your office handled the ARPA funding and

has all uh funding that's been allocated

have been distributed to all entities

and groups that which it's supposed to

go to?

>> Thank you. Well, the only ARPA money

that I deal with is what they call the

ARPA home.

And uh when I came on board, there was

no program for the ARPA home.

None whatsoever. So I had to design,

develop, and implement an ARPA

program.

Um so that's in existence. We are

expending those dollars.

Uh we're providing um rehab services to

families in need again based on income.

Low to moderate income. Um we have

um

completed

56 homes.

Um and we have 86

more families waiting.

Uh the reason for the waiting period is

because we share our contractors with

our HRP program and our Alpha Home.

Um although we also since I've been here

increased the number of contractors that

we have, um we have uh 19. Uh 16 of them

are minority contractors.

And um and when I started um

we had nine

I I'm sorry, eight um minority

contractors.

Uh one thing I implemented was a

quarterly meeting with our contractors.

And that was so that we could hear from

them. They can tell us, you know, what

issues they're going through. Sometimes

they have issues with even the people

that they're serving, you know,

rehabbing their homes and so forth. They

don't not necessarily have

know how to handle them. Um I An example

is I have one contractor that um

was rehabbing a home and

um

in the contract it clearly states

there's certain things a contractors

can't do. And that's to prevent them

from having any kind of legal problems

and

with with with us, with the contractors.

These uh

young men and women um do an exemplary

job. And so we try to be as supportive

as we can to them. They are also very

instrumental in bringing in new

contractors. So that's why we have a

quarterly quarterly meeting with them.

We have also implemented a program.

Somebody mentioned something about lead

earlier.

But um in our codes department. Um, I

implemented a program where our lead

program involves our codes officers in

their training so that they know how to

recognize lead.

And how to report it back to our lead

program. And so their own safety as well

as the safety of the homes that they go

into where they where they're doing a