Harrisburg City Council Work Session 3/17/2026

Okay, good evening everyone. I'd like to

be mindful of your time. So, the time is

5:31

p.m. We will call our work session to

order.

Mr. Humphrey, could you please call the

roll?

Ms. Davis I'm present. Ms. Green

Mr. Jones

Mr. Jones

Yes.

Mr. Lawson

Yes, we heard you. Sorry.

Mr. Lawson

Here.

Ms. Rawls

Present.

Mr. Rodriguez

Present.

Ms. Hill

Present.

Thank you.

We will begin with the work of the

administration committee. We have two

resolutions for discussion this evening.

We will begin with resolution 16 of

2026.

Mr. Humphrey, could you please read it

into the record?

Resolution 16 of 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

recreational activities on the Capital

Area Greenbelt.

Thank you.

Uh, who from the administration is

present

to discuss resolution 16 of 2026?

Good evening. Good evening.

Um,

>> [clears throat]

>> my name is Joel Siders. I'm the city

engineer.

Uh, this resolution is pretty

straightforward. I feel um, we all know

the 83 project is coming through the

area. The next phase is the the South

Bridge. Uh, it'll actually go to

construction this year.

And what this lease is in reference to

is there's a

a small gravel um, area under the South

Bridge currently off of South Front

Street. It's primarily used by those

wishing to access the Greenbelt for

parking.

And as part of PennDOT's bridge

construction

they plan to

pave that um, kind of renovate the whole

area, add security lighting.

And

>> [clears throat]

>> if the city were to enter into the lease

agreement with them, we would then take

over maintenance of that area.

Um, plowing, debris clearing, um,

and then adjust the any lighting issues

that might uh, come up.

Okay. Thank you. Um, I don't have any

questions regarding this resolution, but

I'll open up the floor to my colleagues

who may have some questions for you. I'd

like to begin to my left with

Councilwoman Rawls.

Uh, thank you, President Hill. I don't

have any questions. I was very excited

to see um,

to be used as parking for recreational

activities. I think that always seeing

more parking is um, pleasant um,

especially with um, with us trying to

build up the things that we're doing

within the city. Um, so I don't have any

questions at all. That was it. I was

just excited to see trying to add some

more parking.

Thank you.

Councilman Rodriguez, any questions on

resolution 16?

Thank you, Madam President. Thank you,

Joel, for joining us this evening. No

questions for me. Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilwoman

Davis

>> [laughter]

>> Good evening, Mr. Siders.

Thank you for being here this evening.

This is pretty clear-cut to me, so I

don't have any questions.

Thank you. Thank you.

Uh,

I don't know. Vice President Jones, are

you able to hear me?

Okay.

Councilwoman Green, any questions on

resolution 16? How are you?

You still looking for Vice President

Jones? Yes, I guess. I can

Hello. Okay.

Do you have any questions related to

resolution 16? have any questions. I am

having some difficulties. I apologize.

That's okay. Thank you.

Councilwoman Green, any questions? Thank

you, President Hill. Uh, thank you for

being here tonight. My apologies for my

uh, slight tardiness. I don't have any

questions, but I read over this and it's

pretty clear-cut, so thank you. Welcome.

Thank you. Councilman Lawson, do you

have any questions related to resolution

16?

Uh, thank you, President Hill. I have no

questions. I am happy to see uh, parking

for expanded recreation, so I'm thrilled

to uh, to see this. Thank you.

Excellent. Thank you.

If there are no further questions, no

further discussion, I move to add

resolution 16 of 2026

to our next legislative session agenda

for a formal vote. Thank you. Next, we

have resolution 19 of 2026.

Mr. Humphrey, could you please read it

into the record?

Resolution 19 of 2026. A resolution

appointing Ms. Katherine O'Flaherty to

serve on the Harrisburg Architectural

Review Board of the City of Harrisburg.

Thank you.

Good evening. If you wouldn't mind just

taking a few minutes to introduce

yourself.

Hello. Um,

thank you for having me here. Uh, my

name is Katherine O'Flaherty. I prefer

to go by Katie, otherwise I feel like

I'm in trouble.

Um, I am uh, applying to be on the

Harrisburg Architectural Review Board. I

moved to Midtown um,

almost 2 years ago, but I've been

working in downtown for the past

8 and 1/2 years.

Um, and I had started looking into um,

like the planning and codes and all that

jazz when I had some

uh,

delightfully expensive projects at my

house. Um,

and uh, that I uh,

discovered that the Architectural Review

Board and living in a historic district

was

Sorry, I'm very nervous talking in front

of people.

Um, was just uh, something that really

caught my interest and I've always had

uh, an interest in history, especially

of wherever I've been living. Um, so and

I would really love to be a part of

helping Harrisburg homeowners and

residents um,

and

anybody who

lives in the city to

uh,

figure out the best way to take care of

and keep everything looking historical,

but also livable for those who are here.

Thank you. Um, before I open the floor

to my colleagues who may have some

additional questions for you, I just

wanted to note uh, the Harrisburg

Architectural Review Board um, shall be

comprised of seven members.

And whereas pursuant to section 7-317.4

subsection A, the members of the board

shall consist of one registered

architect, one licensed real estate

broker, one building inspector of the

city, and four additional persons with

the knowledge of and interest in

preservation of the historic overlay

district and reside therein.

Appointments to the board shall be made

by the mayor with the advice and consent

of city council.

Ms. O'Flaherty resides in a historic

district and is passionate about

learning and preserving Harrisburg's

historical architecture.

Pursuant to section 7-317.4

subsection C, appointees to the board

shall serve for a term of 3 years

or for the unexpired portion of a

vacated term.

So, your potential appointment

um, to would be for a term of 3 years

um, commencing on the date of city

council's approval of this resolution

and expiring 3 years thereafter. So, I

just like to note that.

Um, just

I guess one more question. I think you

talked a little bit about it um, during

your introduction, but what impact do

you believe that you will be able to

make um, should you be appointed to

serve on the Harrisburg Architectural

Review Board?

Um, I'm a very recent homeowner um, and

I did a lot of um, just as a personal

anecdote, I did ended up doing a lot of

research when trying to figure out um,

one of my walls uh, needed to have the

brick repointed. It's a 139-year-old

house. Uh, Um, and the masonry was very

spotty, and I spent a lot of time and a

lot of, um,

effort looking up on how to properly

take care of that and how to properly

vet, uh, contractors and masons to do

that work because it was something too

large for me to do by myself. Um, and it

wasn't until afterwards that I realized

that I could have,

uh, potentially reached out to the

Architectural Review Board and asked

them for help. And so, I'm hoping that I

will be able to help residents of the

city realize that those options are out

there, and it's

the review board is not just to say,

"No, you can't do that." But, um, to

figure out the best way for residents

and property owners to come to an

agreement on how to

preserve the historical architecture of

the city, but also keep it livable for

everyone here.

And everyone in the future.

Thank you. I don't have any other

questions. I am going to open up the

floor to my colleagues who may have some

additional questions for you. At this

time, I'd like to begin with our

Building and Housing Committee Chair,

Councilwoman Davis. Do you have any

questions? Thank you, President Hill.

Good evening, Ms. So Flattery.

I don't have any questions. I would just

like to say

that you being that you're passionate

and you have an interest in this board

is half of the battle. So, I think you

would be great at it. And thank you for

being here this evening. Thank you.

That's it.

Thank you. Councilman Rodriguez, do you

have any questions?

Thank you, Madam President. And, uh,

thank you for joining us this evening

and your willingness to serve in this

capacity. I have no questions. It was

just rather hard to hear on our end, but

that's just due to the technical

difficulties. But, I really appreciate

you joining us this evening, and I look

forward to seeing the great work you'll

be doing. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh, Councilwoman Ross, any questions?

Good evening. Thank you for being here

tonight, and thank you for being willing

to volunteer,

um, to be on, um, the our

[clears throat] Harrisburg Architectural

Review Board. Um, it's a very important

component within our city since we do

have so many historical districts.

Um, I actually have two questions. My

first question is, I've been very

passionate in this area, too, especially

with, um, our historical districts, but,

uh, also the affordability

of being able to keep up with our

historical houses, especially for, I

feel, as residents who may have

purchased the house before it became

historic, and then it becomes historic

and now have to do updates, and, um, it

becomes a bit costly. So, I was

wondering, um, since you have had

similar experience, how could you, or

what would you try to put in place to

help homeowners that, um,

do have to do updates on their home a

certain way, but it it it is costly.

What How could you help in those areas?

Um, I know that there's, um,

there's never one specific way to do

anything. Um, and a

lot of what we

a lot of the options that we have for

whatever the particular project is in

mind, whether it's, um,

putting up a fence or repairing, um,

historic plumbing that has broken, which

doesn't really fall in that category.

But, um, or uh, updating windows. Like,

there are

so many options, um, and so many times

this is overwhelming for homeowners, um,

as one of them. Right. Right.

Um,

it's definitely something that, um,

there's

always going to be so many options,

um, and it's definitely something that

we can take the time to review with the

homeowner and make sure that they're

not wasting their time or money updating

or, uh, improving whatever they need and

to make sure that it's still livable.

Um,

but especially, uh, a lot of

a lot of parts of historical

architecture, especially residential,

were designed to be maintained, not

replaced. That's definitely something to

consider, um, because

when you have home maintenance, there's,

unfortunately, always going to be some

sort of cost. Um, but it's just a matter

of figuring out where the balance is of

materials and labor and how we can best

Oh, I agree. work around that. Thank

you. I just have one other question.

It's from, um, a resident just wondering

what experience do you have, um, within

historic, uh, districts or historic

overlays or, um, wanting to be a part of

this board, um,

uh, could you speak to any other

experiences or experiences you have

other than you are living in an historic

home?

Um, that's a a very reasonable question,

uh, especially since I've only been

there for less than 2 years. Um, and

previously, I was a renter for several

years. Um,

uh,

I moved down here, um,

in part because, in large part, because

I work downtown and it was easy to walk

to work. Um, but I absolutely love

living

in the beautiful area that I'm in now,

um,

to the point where I have become a

little bit obsessed with historic

windows. Um, so, uh, in the past couple

of months, I have taken, um,

classes on how to, uh, like, fully

restore and repair historic windows. Um,

mostly so that I could do it myself. Um,

And, um, I do a lot of personal

research.

Um,

it is, uh, uh,

my desire to join to be on the board

Excuse me. [clears throat] Definitely

stemmed from, um, a personal interest,

but I also know that there are

a lot of folks who don't have the time

or don't have the wherewithal to

uh,

even look into this sort of sort of

stuff. And especially, like,

if you have something break in your

house, it's all of a sudden you need to

get it fixed right now. Um,

I I'm

I hate being in that position myself,

and I would love to be able to

even just help other people if they need

to research how to do that or like

finding the best way. So, I I don't have

as much experience as some folks who are

already on the board, um, but I'm

definitely hopeful that I can learn from

the folks who are on the board and also

work with, um, the folks who live in

Harrisburg already to

further educate myself.

Well, that's always the best way is

being open to learn more, and I love

that you took a class on historic

windows. I did not know that that

existed. So, I'm interested in that

class myself, um, cuz my home has

historic windows. So, um, thank you.

That's it. That's all for me.

Thank you. Vice President Jones, do you

have any questions?

Uh, I apologize again. I really couldn't

hear her. Sounded like she was

whispering. I couldn't hear very well.

Um, so, at this moment, I don't have any

uh, questions. Okay. Thank you.

Councilwoman Green, any questions?

Thank you. Thank you for being here

tonight and, uh, your willingness to

serve. I think most of my questions have

been asked and answered at this point.

Um, I appreciate you being willing to be

a part of this board, uh, and lend your

expertise as a homeowner and is also

someone who's, uh, personally invested

in this. So, thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Lawson, do you have any

questions?

Hello. Um, and thank you so much for,

uh, your willingness to to serve. We we

we want more citizens, but we want more

people that are are committed and to,

uh, also working to help make our our

neighborhoods and our our city better.

So, now that I've gone on this diatribe,

no, I do not have any questions. Thank

you, President Hill. But, I do want to

accommodate you for, uh, stepping up and

being willing to be an active citizen,

um, and we need more people like that.

Thank you.

Thank you. If there are no further

questions,

I don't have any questions, President

Hill. I just wanted to, um, note, um,

Ms. So Flattery,

that one of my concerns is is that when

new people move into the neighborhood or

into this community,

they may buy a property that's a

historic property, but they may not have

any idea of what it's going to take to

keep it up and to comply with the city's

and HARB's rules and regulations. And

from my understanding, uh, is that the

real estate agents are supposed to

communicate to the buyers

what needs to be done or what

potentially would need to be done to

update and keep up with the property.

So, I would just

ask you to kind of keep an eye on that

if you're selected for this position, so

that people come in people that are

coming into the community to buy these

properties aren't blindsided.

You know. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Um,

there are no further questions, no

further discussion. I move to add

Resolution 19 of 2026 to our next

legislative session agenda for a formal

vote. Thank you for joining us this

evening.

>> Thank you so much.

The next committee business lies with

the budget and finance committee.

There is one resolution for discussion.

That's resolution 18 of 2026.

Mr. Humphrey, could you please read it

into the record?

Resolution 18 of 2026, a resolution

approving the second proposed 2026

budget reallocation including an

additional appropriation and allocation

in fulfillment of contractual

commitments.

Thank you. Who from the administration

is present to discuss resolution 18 of

2026?

I guess we have two of us. My name is

Bob Cannick. I'm the finance director

and Brian McCutchen, the county manager.

Yes. Thank you, Bob.

Good evening council members

budget and finance committee vice

president Jones. Good evening.

Two exhibits for you this evening.

Exhibit A is currently

up on the screen and

and Bob, you're okay if

you want to okay, sure.

Exhibit A is relatively straightforward.

This is just a summary

of the recent results of the

ratification of the contract for the ask

me union.

The key numbers are pretty much right at

the top.

If you look at line 12 and column E,

the approved budget

total ask me payroll was about 8.8

million dollars.

And if you slide over to column K on the

same line,

after the contract ratification,

they're going to cost about 9.6 million

instead of the 8.8 million.

So, the total increase that we're

looking for for the budget about 800,000

dollars.

The rest of the schedule down below just

gives you more detail. It breaks down

the actual numbers in a couple different

categories and also shows you the totals

by department. But the bottom line is

that this is

relatively straightforward but painful.

That we have to add another 800 grand to

our 2026 budget as a result of the

ratification of the ask me contract.

And if you have any questions, feel

free.

Are there any questions related to

exhibit A?

No, I think that one is pretty

straightforward. Okay. Thank you.

Exhibit B. Okay. Just one last comment

on on exhibit A.

As Bob mentioned, all the detail is is

below the schedule, but the increase of

course includes the recently approved 4%

increase in compensation for salaries

and wages,

the specified bonus amount on an

individual basis and the corresponding

increase in social security Medicare

FICA payroll tax expense.

Um

the

This of course relates just to the the

non-uniform

collective bargaining agreement or or

ask me.

That's all I have on that. Yeah.

And there's energy at the preview of

coming attractions.

Hopefully the police contracts will be

ratified within the next couple of

weeks.

Maybe a month or so. And then we also

had the fire department up for

renegotiation. Their contract expires

December 31st of this year.

So, this is really just a preview of

coming attractions.

Okay. All right. On to exhibit B.

And

Yes, thank you, Cedric.

There's two items to note on here which

are further explained by the the

footnotes A and B.

Um

The first part relates to

two funds here where there is a

communicated need to address

the current Reservoir Park Pavilion

renovation project.

So, the the biggest piece of this is to

move 500,000 dollars actually within the

capital projects fund, but taking it

taking it from the equipment line and

moving it up to buildings and structures

to fit the the renovation of the

pavilion.

And from communications also from

from departments,

the original budget of 500,000 was in in

the original appropriation, it was meant

for

electrical upgrades at Riverfront Park.

But but the decision or the or the

the focus now is to address the the

pavilion renovation project. So, that's

500,000. The remaining 43,000

to get to the total for footnote A

within neighborhood services, but it's

the parks maintenance budget unit piece.

And the request here is to move 43,000

dollars

from one of the supply lines and to to

match it up to the building and

structure

account for this capital initiative.

That's footnote A.

I'll move to footnote B which relates

again to neighborhood services and

specifically the city services or

sanitation component of that fund.

And I think I'll hold right there cuz I

know

Director Dave West is here and he may

want to comment on these particular

lines.

If he's available.

Good evening. Good evening.

Council members,

we had to make a decision to

um

take some lines and some finance to

purchase a small packer which is a small

trash truck in order to make our run

for our state project. We took on the

state's trash a couple of years ago and

they had their own truck to do their

recycling. But when those employees

retired as an obligation just like we

have for

Steelton, Penbrook, Paxtang and the city

of Harrisburg Harrisburg itself, if you

take on the trash, you take on the

recycling as well because it comes

together. So, our we have an obligation

to take on their recycling and their

recycling consist of their cardboard and

their office paper which will be an

added revenue to the city of Harrisburg.

And now that we have taken it over, we

had to purchase a truck in order to be

able to feed the task.

And we we took this finances and we we

put it together into an equipment line

to be able to purchase the small packer

so we can complete the task of

fulfilling our obligation to the state.

Which and every day we fill this truck

up with office paper and we fill it up

with cardboard on a daily basis.

So, we were using one of the small

packers that we have, but it stipulates

us from doing our job at a full capacity

for what the trucks already being used

for.

So, we got to swap and we're juggling

until we're able to purchase the small

sanitation packer to fulfill the

obligation for the state itself and the

other small trucks can complete the task

at their own.

Okay.

Are you able to also speak to the

capital projects appropriation or no?

Yes, the 500,000 dollars.

>> Yes. Yes.

So,

so the 500,000

dollars that was for

the uh

it was for the

the lighting

that we had to fix down by the river

walk.

And

what we did was we waterproofed the

boxes so they can last us for a year or

two. So, we were able to take that money

because we have to

fix

the um

the pavilion.

So, we have we have to fix the pavilion

in order for us to have the summer

program. If not, it'll be too dangerous

for us to use for the summer program for

the children. So, in my direction, I saw

that I saw that it's more feasible to be

able to use that money to fix the

pavilion so we can have the program that

we would have. And we will be able to

accomplish these feats.

Okay, thank you. I just wanted a little

bit more information about that

appropriation. Thank you.

Um

But we will we will continue to address

the issue as far as the electric boxes

what the money was doing for in the

first place. Okay.

Do you have an idea of when you might

um

complete the the electric boxes? We

won't be able to complete them to until

next year, but we we we did waterproof

them so they won't cause an electric

shock for us to be able to make it

through this year. Okay.

Thank you. Because it doesn't take all

of the money. It takes most of the

money, but we'll use the rest of it to

continue to do we need to do to keep it

going until next year. Okay. Got it.

Thank you.

Um I don't have any other questions. I

will open the floor to my colleagues.

I'd like to begin with Vice President

Jones. Are you able to hear us?

Yes, I can. Thank you, President Hill.

Uh thank you, Mr. West. Um

not going to

go into too much, but I do have a

question in regards to um what President

Hill just asked you about the 500,000.

I heard your explanation somewhat, but

I'll just ask you my question.

Um I know

I want to say it was maybe 3 months ago

that um you guys asked for this this

money.

And now and for the equipment and now

you want to move it somewhere else. Can

you give me an explanation why we're

moving it so quickly?

Because without repairing the pavilion,

we will not be able to carry through

with the summer program for the youth.

And we are able to take this money and

get through the events that are coming

through for the rest of the year to be

able to just get through this year with

what we have done to contain the

waterproofing of the boxes.

Okay, so what uh

I heard you mention something about what

it was originally um allocated for. What

do we do about that now that we're

moving it? We are not able to

uh fulfill our total obligation and

changing all of the boxes, but we did

make them safe to get it to get through

this season of events that we're going

to have for the rest of the year.

By waterproofing

>> Do you anticipate the cost to be in

total of the 500k?

For next year?

All the 500,000 that we're going to use

for

the um

pavilion. Thank you.

Are you going to use some of this for

the for the uh the packer and these

events? Is that what you're saying?

No, the packer is a totally different

issue.

The 500,000 is for the pavilion, which

is 543,000.

Okay.

Uh yeah, I

I apologize. I won't ask too many more

questions. I'll just um try to once I

get back into uh the city uh get some

more clarification, but you know, I I

wouldn't stop from moving it to uh

you know, our next legislative session.

So I I definitely will

require some more information, but you

know, I just can't get to it all right

at this uh moment. So I apologize again

and uh thank you, President Hill. I

don't have any further questions.

Thank you. Um and next, I'd like to uh

ask if our Public Works Committee Chair,

Councilman Rodriguez, if you have any

questions.

Thank you, Madam President. Um and thank

you, Director West, for joining us.

Um my questions were in the spectrum of

Councilman Jones's uh

question, so I have no further questions

on this.

Um I just

uh maybe I'll connect with Director West

to find out a little bit more about the

pavilion, but um nothing that would

interrupt the session right now at this

time. Thank you. Thank you.

Next, uh Councilwoman Ross, our Parks,

Recreation, and Enrichment Committee

Chair. Thank you so much, uh President

Hill. I just wanted to let my colleagues

know that I have um spoken in length

with um the Parks and Rec um department

about this uh pavilion and needing the

money for the updates. I too had

concerns because I know that we needed

the lighting in the riverfront um and

that was uh one of the issues that we

had and we needed the updated lighting.

Um however,

my biggest concern was the pavilion and

the summer program. Um I know my

daughter attended the summer program

there this summer and the pavilion is

not in um good shape. Um

it is uh it needs painting, but the

floorboards are I think the biggest

concern. I don't want a child to um get

hurt by falling through the floor

floorboards. I'm and I I think it's just

a little risky there, the pavilion. So I

just wanted my colleagues to know that I

had spoken to them and spoken with the

Parks and Rec Department in length and I

also had the the same concerns you do,

but I my biggest concern are the

children at the park this summer. Um so

I I just wanted you all to let you all

know that I was in support of this. Um

although I know it raises some concerns

with what the money was initially

intended for and that we have an

obligation to make sure that lighting is

complete. Um my only other question,

well, not question, but if you maybe

could go on in length of when it

[snorts] when the pavilion would be

done. I know that they spoke to me about

it, but I don't know if any deadlines

have changed, but I also do know

Director West said if it's not done,

they had spoke about putting a tent up

um if the pavilion wasn't done exactly

when summer camp started, but then it

would be done within a week or so of the

camp. But I know that could be

uh a concern for my colleagues and the

residents. So if you are able to speak

of that at all um with any extra

timelines on the completion of it.

Yes, so

once uh passed by council that we can

move forward, we will move forward with

the construction companies that we're

dealing with to maintain to be able to

be on time with the opening of the

pavilion with whatever they have to do.

And for a backup, if that doesn't

happen, we have to have a plan B and the

plan B would be if so for a week to have

a tent to be able to maintain the youth

programs that we're going to have for

the summer so they can finish the

project till we can move right into the

pavilion. It and we we're not making the

electrical boxes

uh not an issue now. It's just that that

priority issue is we have to have the

programs ready for the children for the

summer. And in order to do that, we have

to use the money to do it and in the

same sense make the electrical boxes

safe for the summer so we can get by

before we can change them all out. We

just not change them all out, but we are

making them safe.

Thank you for giving more clarification

on that. Um that's it for me, President

Hill.

Thank you. Councilwoman Davis, do you

have any questions? Thank you, President

Hill. Yes, good evening, Mr. West.

In terms of making the boxes

uh waterproof, is that something that

needs to be done or was it done already?

Just clarification.

>> No, that's what we are going to be in

the process of doing

once it's um approved. Okay. Of the

direction that we want to take.

Thank you. That's it for me.

Thank you. Councilwoman Green, any

questions?

Thank you very much for being here

tonight. I do have a couple of

questions. Um the first question is when

did we know that the pavilion needed

upgrades?

We knew

for a period of time, but because of the

weather that we have been we receiving,

they have become worse than what we

thought they were going to be. Okay. So

we thought they would be able to make it

through the summer and now they're not

able to cuz I guess I'm just kind of

wondering why wasn't it budgeted for,

right? Cuz we're we're kind of early

into the year for such a large

reallocation. Um and it's like why don't

we budget for this during the budget

season? Because we thought that we were

we were going to be able to make it.

Okay. And what all is going to be being

done? Like what what are the upgrades?

The the floor,

the

pavilion itself,

and it's going to be

totally upgraded wherever uh needed to

be upgraded through the entire pavilion.

If you want a detailed uh list, I will

be able to get you a detailed list of

the upgrading of the entire pavilion.

Okay. I would appreciate that cuz I've

heard rumors that windows are going to

be put in now, that all sorts of things.

So I just would like to know what is

going to be done. Okay. I'll get you the

list of what we're going to have done.

Okay. I appreciate it. That's all I

have. Thank you.

>> Thank you. Councilman Lawson, do you

have any questions?

Hello. Um thank you, uh President Hill.

May

not really a question. Thank you, uh

Director West, for uh coming out and in

uh presenting this information. Um

my my only concern is uh that it seems

that we're doing a a quick job with the

the lighting. And I think we need to

make sure that the lighting does remain

a high priority. And then I'm not saying

to uh sacrifice what we're doing for the

the the kids over at the pavilion, but I

think in this upcoming budget we we have

to look at some some long-term fixes so

that we're not doing patchwork. We want

to make sure that, you know, these

things these areas are light and safe

and um

uh that we're at they're open to our

residents. So I I think the lighting has

to be a a priority that we focus on here

in the the coming future.

I agree. The lighting the electrical

boxes are for the events on Front

Street.

The the pavilion is a totally different

project that we

we uh

met as a team to come to a conclusion

that we have to attend the pavilion

because of the summer program, which

this is March, and we have a couple of

months to get there. So, and we have to

be on a project. We have to be expedited

um

very fast in order to do what we need to

do and not miss anything at the same

time. So, that's why the focus is there.

>> Right.

Thank you. And I agree with that. It's

just that the the the riverfront

lighting is a sore subject with me

because it's it's typically really dark

there, and it doesn't feel very safe.

And it's not very welcome for a lot of

our our residents. So, we

we we definitely and I'm not saying to

take away from the the pavilion, but we

need to do this as a uh

this this has to be something that we

really

move to the forefront.

I agree.

Thank you. That's that's all I have.

Thank you.

Thank you. If there's no further

discussion, no additional questions, I

move to add resolution 18 of 2026

to our next legislative session for a

formal vote. Thank you for being here

this evening. Thank you.

Next we have public comment. Um 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 4

minutes to share your comments. Mr.

Humphrey 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?

Okay. Seeing and hearing no one, anyone

in the middle section?

Yes, please.

Thank you.

I don't I obviously don't know what I'm

doing.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council. Keri Fowler,

Midtown Harrisburg. I really wish I

wasn't here for this. I really do.

But I'm here today because I'm being

openly harassed and attacked on social

media by Gloria Martin Roberts.

The reasons for these attacks attacks is

simple. I spoke out and expressed my

opinion about her appointment to a

position that I did not believe she was

qualified for.

Let me be very clear. As a taxpayer and

voter in this city, I have every right

to express my opinion about decisions

made by our government. That is just not

my right. It is a fundamental part of

democracy.

But instead of being able to participate

in civic discussion like any other

resident, I've been subjected to

repeated online attacks on my character

by someone in a leadership position

connected to a federally funded

department.

And I want to address the nature of

those attacks directly.

This has gone beyond disagreement.

Gloria Martin Roberts has publicly

attacked my character

and even threatened to pull my criminal

background in order to expose it on

social media.

Let me clear Let me be clear about

something else. I am not ashamed of my

past. I've been open about it. The

mistakes I made came during a time when

I was struggling with an undiagnosed

mental health disorder that I did not

yet understand.

Since then, I've done the work. I sought

help. I took responsibility, and I

turned my life around. I am proud of who

I am today

and everything that I have overcome to

be the person I am today.

So, using my past against me is not the

threat she thinks it is because I've

already owned it.

But that does not make her actions

acceptable.

Regardless of mental health struggles,

regardless of past mistakes, we should

not be attacking people for things they

have already taken responsibility for

and worked hard to overcome.

That is not accountability. That is

retaliation.

And when someone in a position of power

threatens to expose and weaponize a

resident's past simply because they

spoke out, it sends a chilling message

to this entire community. Speak up, and

you could be next.

What makes this even more concerning is

that the city of Harrisburg already has

a social media policy in place outlining

expectations for employee conduct. So,

the question is simple. Why are we not

holding people accountable to the

policies that are already exist?

Because policies mean nothing if they

are not enforced.

I reported this behavior to the city

human city's human resources department

and provided all of the documentation of

the online harassment. It has gone on

for over a week.

I have received no response. I have also

showed the post documenting this

harassment with members of Council. So,

there is no question that everybody

knows, for the most part, what is going

on.

What So, tonight I want to ask the

Council this. What are you going to do

to stop this retaliatory behavior and

force and enforce the policies that are

already in place? This is drastically

affecting my grandson, who is 15 years

old. He is reading these attacks.

He is getting very upset about the

attacks.

I have asked for help. I have filed

complaints, and I have received no

response explaining what is being done

to ensure the harassment of my character

stops.

I would respectfully ask the Council

respond and explain what steps will be

taken because there has been silence

from everyone.

I'm asking for accountability, and I'm

asking for an answer.

I want to be very clear. If this

behavior continues to be ignored, I am

fully prepared to escalate this issue

further until there is accountability.

Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section that would like to offer

public comment?

Good evening, Council. Kia Fowler, North

5th Street. Um ironically, no no

relation to Keri Fowler, though we do

sort of look alike, so it's kind of

interesting. Um

I wanted to start this off on a lighter

topic, but um Ms. Fowler's comments kind

of brought something forward for me. So,

last week I made some public uh comments

about the mayor, about how I disapproved

of some public statements she'd made in

her representation as mayor. Um after

this meeting last Tuesday, uh the mayor

allowed three of her compatriots to

attempt to physically intimidate me and

verbally intimidate and harass me as

well when I went to speak about some

other behavior she displayed during last

Tuesday's meeting. Um additionally,

while speaking with the mayor, um

sh- Ms. Gloria Roberts did stop by, and

she must have overheard a discussion I

had with Councilwoman Rawls last

Tuesday. I'd appreciated Councilwoman

Rawls and um President Hill's

strict questioning of Ms. Gloria Roberts

because I'm not familiar with her work.

And so, to kind of see the really

thorough questioning, I really

appreciated it. Um I had made no comment

on

allegations about Ms. Gloria Roberts' uh

conduct. I do think that public

officials need to be held to upstanding

moral character because they're

representations of the public. So, I was

concerned to hear the public alleging

these things against her. Uh I'm even

more dismayed to hear this now. And

additionally, in support of Ms. Fowler's

comments, when I was speaking with the

mayor, Ms. Gloria Roberts passed by and

continued to emphasize um a point that

was made that I was personally attacking

the mayor or dragging her name through

the mud. Uh Ms. Roberts overheard that,

and um in support, I suppose, of that

accusation, made a snide comment about

how I had been disrespectful towards her

as well, having overheard her comment or

my discussion with Ms. Rawls. So, um I

hope that she continues to do a good job

in this role, but I'm deeply dismayed to

see a person um especially of her age

and theoretically more mature attitude

behaving so immaturely. Um given that

Ms. Fowler has already been attacked

online, and I intend to speak further

about my interaction with the mayor, uh

I am concerned about harassment for

myself as well.

On to a more positive note, um thank

you, Councilwoman Rawls, for addressing

my question with Ms. O'Flaherty. Um I

was an archaeology student in

university, so I'm glad to see not only

was Ms. O'Flaherty uh very excited to

learn about her house through personal

work, but to hear that she'd gone a step

further and uh doing the work by taking

a class on historical architecture. I'm

very very pleased with that and would

very much support her nomination to the

position if you if you guys are so

inclined.

>> [snorts]

>> Um

I know Council's been trying to reach to

the public lately about how we can

continue to improve downtown. Um

some friends of mine and I want just

wanted to point out that people are

complaining online about parking

situation. I understand that this is a

public not sorry, this is a private

authority who who governs a lot of the

public parking downtown. Uh there are

concerns about some alleged overzealous

enforcement um

bordering on kind of too much

enforcement. I'm not saying people

shouldn't pay for parking, absolutely,

you should be ticketed, but there's some

allegations of a particular law parking

parking enforcer

um

I won't say abusing power because I have

no knowledge directly, but the

intimations online are bordering on on

abusive power for that individual

parking uh enforcement agent.

Um

otherwise, thank you very much for your

time this evening.

Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

middle section? Seeing hearing no one.

Anyone to my left

who would like to offer a public

comment?

Good afternoon,

President, City Council.

Um

I'm interested in creating a Camp Curtin

historical district. We never really

um

gave Camp Curtin the recognition it

deserves. And I would like to work with

the council to to draw up something

regards to Camp Curtin and

having a historical district around

Camp Curtin, which is 7th to 4th

uh McClay to Schuylkill.

That district um

is it should be merited. And I think we

need

to do something to highlight

the uptown

district as being historical.

Um whatever it takes to write it cuz

it's there's a lot of literature. If we

have a pull stuff together

to make it cute or whatever we have to

do, but I think within our anniversary

the 250th anniversary should have some

kind of um

method to the madness to highlight who

and what we are cuz we're looking for

some identity

and we're trying to bring tourists in.

We're trying to

you know, highlight some of the high

points of what Harrisburg is and what

what we who we are.

So, creating a district would be fine. I

would I would work with any council

person, including the mayor

and Gloria M. Lyons Roberts.

Um if they would give me a meeting time,

it's crazy.

Um but yeah.

But I would love to work with council to

maybe put some pressure on them to do

something

because sometimes they don't do anything

other than harass people.

But I'm going to try to help them so

they do something and I don't want to

get too uh angry or bothered by some of

their performances and I'm not going to

be the one. But I could, but I'm not

going to do it. Um the State Street

Bridge um Royal Terrace, it's horrible.

And the trash on the embankment is just

it's been like that for 20 years.

Somebody needs to look at the trash and

get it together. We can do a project in

which um we can have solar panel array,

just clear it up.

Concrete it, put some solar panels on on

that angle and we could supply that

area, including the bridge, with

lighting. Um I want to come in front of

council

um sometime this month and I have a

PowerPoint presentation that I can show

you guys

that would help you in understanding my

vision for the State Street Bridge

for our 250th anniversary.

Um if we can set a date

uh I don't know who I should talk to

regards to setting a date, but I'm

ready.

Um

it's pretty smart

and it's clean

and it gets the trash out of the way.

There are there's a pro- there's a

parcel at 13th and State

that we never used and I've I've

I'll be 60 this year and I've never seen

anything on that track of land at 13th

and State. We could erect a a museum to

highlight what the State Street Memorial

Bridge actually is. It was based on all

the wars that we um had in America and

we really do need an educational revisit

of who and what we are so we know what's

going on. Our school is hurting.

That could help with curriculum. We're

We're looking at new ways on how we can

educate our children

economically

right here in walking distance. We can

do all that. It's just up to us to put

it together.

Last week I talked about the meetings.

They need to be staggered

cuz school district is having some

issues. It's a bad if we look at the

percentages

of Thank you for your comments, sir.

Okay, of homelessness for the children.

There's just There's just a lot of stuff

to do. Our our uh

elected officials shouldn't be like

posting up in and harassing people in

the bathrooms or nothing like that. It's

crazy. Let's get it together.

I'm available and

I'm around.

Thank you.

Good evening, Council. Ruby Prophet.

2000 block of Chestnut Street. Happy St.

Patrick's

Day. Um just another reason to

celebrate.

I was recently not by the mayor.

Let's get this straight.

I was recently called a white

supremacist.

And I want to keep my black card, right?

However, if there's benefits to it, I

would also like to cash in on that

because of my pro-American views, I

guess.

Understanding that Caucasian people has

had their share of um

horrific things happen to them and

understanding that melanated people also

have had horrific thing happen to them.

And when I voice those views, sometimes

people think that I'm

anti-black, which is absurd because I'm

so melanated.

Um

but I wanted to say that we

face different challenges

and maybe because I'm

more educated, when I'm thrown negative

vibes, I kind of learn how to take it

and multiply it. Today was a real

successful day, so I wanted to thank

Harrisburg for the job it's doing. Thank

you, ladies, for showing up. The guys

decided to take the day off.

But it is women empowerment month and

you guys are doing your thing. Thank you

very much.

You don't do enough. You will never do

enough.

But you are doing something and for

that, happy St. Patrick's Day.

Thank you. Is there anyone else to my

left that would like to offer public

comment? Seeing and hearing no one.

Uh the guys actually aren't off. They

did participate

uh via Zoom. Uh Councilman Lawson and

Vice President Jones are attending the

National League of Cities 2026

Congressional City Conference. So,

they're local leaders um engaged with

the current administration. They hone

advocacy skills and strengthen uh the

local federal partnership to support our

municipality, the City of Harrisburg.

So, they're not off. They're attending a

conference, the National League of

Cities Congressional Conference. Just

wanted to note that.

Um and I guess I do have a question uh

for Solicitor Grover since uh the Bureau

of Human Resources is under uh

the Administration Committee's purview.

Just for general knowledge

what is the appropriate

um

What what is the appropriate course to

file a complaint and then what hap- what

is supposed to happen after that? Just

for everybody's reference.

It can be very sort of topic-specific.

Some complaints don't belong in Human

Resources.

Ones that do trigger um a question,

frankly, typically to our office. Um for

this particular one, um there was uh

someone assigned to then review it and

look into it and that is happening right

now. Okay, so it's under review. Yes.

And generally, a complaint filed with

the Human Bureau of Human Resources

ends up in the Law Bureau and so forth.

>> back in HR or or different departments.

Like we make an initial determination

that it belongs or doesn't belong over

where we are. Okay. And I will say and I

know the public hates this, a week is a

very short time in government.

You know, with the number of issues that

come through. So, a complaint that's a

week old, it's pretty a pretty new

complaint. Just a response to

I sent three emails.

And I only think that was responded to

it was after I sent the second one.

It was responded to me, you said you

have documentation.

And I did and I still have not heard

not thank you, it's under review.

Nothing.

I sent another one yesterday. I am just

writing to see what is going on with

this

and I still haven't received anything.

As a follow-up question, once review is

complete by either

the law bureau or the Bureau of Human

Resources,

should a resident or anyone making

or filing a complaint receive some form

of communication noting that

a review occurred and here is the

outcome or what what the supposed

process

>> We're not here to give legal advice to

third outside parties. We just are not,

you know. We give legal advice to city

management on a particular issue that

comes in, and then they are tasked to

carry out from there with what that

legal advice is. So, we are not the we

are not speaking generally for the city

on all things. We are simply providing

advice when something comes through our

office on what is the appropriate thing

to do if further review is needed, if

review outside the city government is

needed. It depends on the type of

complaint that it is. Okay, I was just

curious. Uh Councilwoman Ross.

Thank you, President Hill. Um I had the

a similar comment or question as

President Hill, and then I did want to

update um the residents on something,

but um

I don't know what professional

development we do within the city um

with employees and um

uh what we

information we give when they're hired

and during their employment when it goes

with

the internet etiquette.

But, I would say

there needs to be some updated

conversations.

Um so, I'll I'll just say that along

with what the process is for reviews. Um

I don't know what hand you have in that

and uh how you speak with the directors

or the mayor to say, "Hey, from a legal

standpoint, here goes some professional

development I think we need to have

within our city with how we um speak

with people online." But, I would say I

do think that needs to be um reiterated

within

the city of Harrisburg for who works for

the government here.

I will certainly pass that along to the

administration. Our role tends to be to

talk about where the lines are with the

courts. Social media changes those

frequently, and that is where our role

usually is about how people on city um

on city responses can do, on city

equipment can do, what city employees

can do on and off the clock, and it is a

moving target

uh in the judicial system, and that's

more of what our role is.

Yes, I understand that.

>> [laughter]

>> Yes.

But, we will pass on we will pass on the

suggestion that maybe it's time for a

refresher. Yes, that that's

yeah. Yes, and please note and I want

everybody to know that I'm not saying

that in a way of saying that I am an

executive force here. I am the

legislative branch. I'm just saying I I

I do think there needs to be a

refresher.

So, thank you for that, and thank you

for answering those questions. Um the

update I wanted to give was pertains to

Parks and Recreation, and that the

application is open for anyone um who

would like to work in the Parks and

Recreation program this summer, whether

it be as a lifeguard or a camp

counselor, and the application closes on

April the 10th. Um but, it is currently

open now online under the Parks and

Recreation um committee um tab. So, I

just wanted to let everybody know that

that was open for and and is accepting

applicants. So, thank you. That's it for

me.

Thank you very much. The time is 6:34

p.m. I will entertain a motion to

adjourn.

So moved. I gosh, no one's here. I know.

Is there a second? Second. Thank you. We

stand adjourned.